Process of preparing a siloxane copolymer

1. A process of preparing a siloxane copolymer by:

1) reacting

i) a 1-alkene containing from 8 to 12 carbon atoms; and

ii) a cyclic siloxane having the formula:

wherein R is an alkyl radical having 1 to 3 carbon atoms and c is equal to or higher than 4; in the presence of a platinum catalyst so as to form a cyclic copolymer having the formula:

wherein R′ is an alkyl group having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms and a+b=c; and

2) removing the unreacted alkene and volatile cyclic siloxanes from the reaction mixture and where the molar ratio of alkene:cyclic siloxanes is ≧1.5;

wherein the cyclic copolymer has a Volatile Organic Content according to ASTM 5095 below 100 g/l.

2. The process according to claim 1 in which the 1-alkene is 1-octene, 1-dodecene or 1-isooctene.

3. The process according to claim 1 in which a mixture of cyclic siloxanes is used with c being between 4 and 6.

4. The process according to claim 1 in which the cyclic copolymer has a Volatile Organic Content according to ASTM 5095 below 50 g/l.

5. The process according to claim 1 in which a is less than 3 and b is equal to or greater than 2.

6. A water repellent composition for treating porous substrates comprising an emulsion which includes water, at least one surfactant, and a siloxane copolymer obtained by

1) reacting:

i) a 1-alkene containing from 8 to 12 carbon atoms; and

ii) a cyclic siloxane having the formula:

wherein R is an alkyl radical having 1 to 3 carbon atoms and c is equal to or higher than 4; in the presence of a platinum catalyst so as to form a cyclic copolymer having the formula:

wherein R′ is an alkyl group having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms and a+b=c; and

2) removing the unreacted alkene and volatile cyclic siloxanes from the reaction mixture and where the molar ratio of alkene:cyclic siloxanes is ≧1.5;

wherein the cyclic copolymer has a Volatile Organic Content according to ASTM 5095 below 100 g/l.

7. A process for improving the water repellency of a substrate by treating it with the water repellent composition according to claim 6 .

8. The process according to claim 7 where the substrate is at least one of concrete, reinforced concrete, masonry, cement, stucco, natural or artificial stone, ceramic, terracotta bricks, plaster board, fibre cement board, other cement containing products, wood particle board, wood plastic composite, oriented strand board or wood.

9. The process according to claim 7 where the substrate is at least one of cement, stucco, natural or artificial stone, ceramic, terracotta bricks, plaster board, fibre cement board, other cement containing products, wood particle board, wood plastic composite, oriented strand board or wood.

10. A process for improving the water repellency of a substrate by including the water repellent composition according to claim 6 into the starting materials or during manufacture of the substrate.

11. The process according to claim 10 where the substrate is at least one of concrete, reinforced concrete, masonry, cement, stucco, natural or artificial stone, ceramic, terracotta bricks, plaster board, fibre cement board, other cement containing products, wood particle board, wood plastic composite, oriented strand board or wood.

12. The process according to claim 10 where the substrate is at least one of cement, stucco, natural or artificial stone, ceramic, terracotta bricks, plaster board, fibre cement board, other cement containing products, wood particle board, wood plastic composite, oriented strand board or wood.

13. A process for improving the water repellency of a substrate other than regular concrete, high strength concrete, stamped concrete, high performance concrete, self-consolidating concrete, shotcrete, cellular concrete, lightweight aerated concrete, variable density concrete, foamed concrete, lightweight or ultra-lightweight concrete, rapid strength concrete, pre-stressed concrete or reinforced concrete for use in pavements, highways/roadways, bridges/overpasses, parking structures, stadiums, precast structures, tilt up structures, drainage pipes, tunnels or reservoir structures, concrete masonry units, concrete blocks, split faced blocks, natural stone or bricks for use on building facades or foundations by treating it with the water repellent composition according to claim 6 .

14. A water repellent composition for improving the water repellency of substrates comprising an emulsion prepared by

1) combining:

(i) water;

(ii) a siloxane copolymer obtained by

1) reacting:

i) a 1-alkene containing from 8 to 12 carbon atoms; and

ii) a cyclic siloxane having the formula:

wherein R is an alkyl radical having 1 to 3 carbon atoms and c is equal to or higher than 4; in the presence of a platinum catalyst so as to form a cyclic copolymer having the formula:

wherein R′ is an alkyl group having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms and a+b=c; and

2) removing the unreacted alkene and volatile cyclic siloxanes from the reaction mixture and where the molar ratio of alkene:cyclic siloxanes is ≧1.5; and

(iii) a surfactant;

(2) homogenizing the combined components to form the emulsion; and

(3) optionally admixing additional water and additional ingredient;

wherein the composition has a Volatile Organic Content according to ASTM 5095 below 100 g/l.

15. A composition for improving the water repellency of substrates comprising an aqueous emulsion comprised of

(i) water;

(ii) a siloxane copolymer obtained by

1) reacting:

i) a 1-alkene containing from 8 to 12 carbon atoms; and

ii) a cyclic siloxane having the formula:

wherein R is an alkyl radical having 1 to 3 carbon atoms and c is equal to or higher than 4; in the presence of a platinum catalyst so as to form a cyclic copolymer having the formula:

wherein R′ is an alkyl group having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms and a+b=c; and

2) removing the unreacted alkene and volatile cyclic siloxanes from the reaction mixture and where the molar ratio of alkene:cyclic siloxanes is >1.5; and

(iii) a surfactant;

wherein the composition has a Volatile Organic Content according to ASTM 5095 below 100 g/l.

16. A water repellent composition for treating porous substrates comprising an emulsion which includes water, at least one surfactant, and a siloxane copolymer obtained by

1) reacting:

i) a 1-alkene which is 1-octene, 1-dodecene or 1-isooctene; and

ii) a cyclic siloxane having the formula:

wherein R is an alkyl radical having 1 to 3 carbon atoms and c is equal to or higher than 4; in the presence of a platinum catalyst so as to form a cyclic copolymer having the formula:

wherein R′ is an alkyl group having from 8 or 12 carbon atoms and a+b=c; and

2) removing the unreacted alkene and volatile cyclic siloxanes from the reaction mixture and where the molar ratio alkene:cyclic siloxanes is ≧1.5;

wherein the composition has a Volatile Organic Content according to ASTM 5095 below 100 g/l.

17. A water repellent composition for treating porous substrates comprising an emulsion which includes water, at least one surfactant, and a siloxane copolymer obtained by

1) reacting:

i) a 1-alkene containing from 8 to 12 carbon atoms; and

ii) a cyclic siloxane having the formula:

wherein R is an alkyl radical having 1 to 3 carbon atoms and c is between 4 and 6; in the presence of a platinum catalyst so as to form a cyclic copolymer having the formula:

wherein R′ is an alkyl group having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms and a+b=c; and

2) removing the unreacted alkene and volatile cyclic siloxanes from the reaction mixture and where the molar ratio alkene:cyclic siloxanes is ≧1.5;

wherein the composition has a Volatile Organic Content according to ASTM 5095 below 100 g/l.

18. A water repellent composition for treating porous substrates comprising an emulsion which includes water, at least one surfactant, and a siloxane copolymer obtained by

1) reacting:

i) a 1-alkene containing from 8 to 12 carbon atoms; and

ii) a cyclic siloxane having the formula:

wherein R is an alkyl radical having 1 to 3 carbon atoms and c is equal to or higher than 4; in the presence of a platinum catalyst so as to form a cyclic copolymer having the formula:

wherein R′ is an alkyl group having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms a is less than 3, b is equal to or greater than 2, and a+b=c; and

2) removing the unreacted alkene and volatile cyclic siloxanes from the reaction mixture and where the molar ratio of alkene:cyclic siloxanes is ≧1.5;

wherein the composition has a Volatile Organic Content according to ASTM 5095 below 100 g/l.