Page 93 - Abstract book - TJSSF-2020

Thailand – Japan Student Science Fair 2020 (TJ-SSF 2020)
“Seeding Innovations through Fostering Thailand – Japan Youth Friendship”

A New Method of Preventing Mold Using Water Repellent Coating

Rio Kamae
1

Tokai University Takanawadai Senior High School
1

Abstract
Mold can grow easily everywhere. It spoils the look of things and causes various health problems. Mold
is difficult to remove. Typically, we remove mold after finding it. It takes a lot of work. So, it is
important to develop a long-term mold prevention method to reduce cleaning. I hypothesized that we
can do long-term mold prevention by using water repellent. This is because mold needs water to live. I
did two experimental set ups. First, I reproduced conditions for mold in bathrooms. Normally, mold
grows on sealant. I made two samples that were made of sealant. I coated silicone, a kind of water
repellent, on one sample. I wet both with water, sprinkled black mold spores on the sealant and kept the
humidity high. As a result, neither had mold growing on them. Then, I reproduced wear and tear on the
sealant. I painted sealant to the side of the case and scratched the sealant on one half of the box using a
box cutter. I put a petri dish with mold spores and a petri dish of water into the case, to keep the humidity
high. As a result, I found mold in only the scratched sealant. So, I think new sealant is difficult for mold
to grow on, but worn sealant is easy for it to grow in. Next, I tested mold prevention for wood. I
prepared two pieces of Japanese red pinewood. I coated one sample with water repellent. I wet both,
and put both with mold and water into a case. As a result, mold did not grow on the piece of wood
coated with water repellent. So, this shows that mold cannot grow on wood with water repellent.

Keywords: mold, prevention method, water repellent, silicone

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