Water resistance and mildew properties
Water reed has the highest concentration of silicon of all known domestic vegetable plants. Silicon is responsible for the water resistance of the spears and the grievous flammability of water reed. Accordingly silicon is one of the elements that are known for their hydrophobic property. Silicon is a crystal and semiconductor and hence very grievous flammable and almost water-resistant. Silicon tends to build up long-chain molecules, that cause elasticity and tension force. The high silicone percentage makes water reed unattractive as food for insects and animals. Water reed has the German flammable class „B2- normal flammable”.
Thermal insulation properties
Solids heat up faster than gases. If a body comprises small, air filled rooms, the substances heat up different. How long the temperature takes to get balanced, depends on the temperature difference and the material. Air is a bad heat conductor therefore the balance of the temperature takes longer or doesn’t happen at all. Material with air filled spaces creates a insulating layer. The structure of water reed spears follow this principle because the excavations between the knobs are filled with air. Processed to a thick layer (for example in a 8 cm thick water reed insulation panel) even more air spaces are generated between the spears and give water reed the insulating effect.
Noise insulation properties
The transfer of heat is similar to the transfer of noise. Gases and solids do not transfer sonic the same way. The acoustic noise partly is reflected and partly is broken by the defection of the new medium. So is added up that water reed is used as building material because of its noise insulating properties.
Static properties
Elasticity, stability and carrying capacity, in a nutshell the static properties of water reed combined are responsible for the durability of water reed against environmental effects. Causal for the static properties of water reed is its cell arrangement and its build-up. Circular arranged and sustained cell layers which are in turns lignified and lignin free and the lignified cell walls of the water reed conduit determine its strength. The main building material of cell walls is cellulose which is arranged in finest and only under microscope visible traces in different coatings parallel and interdigitated. The spear has its high bending strength because of the cellulose and the concur of very solid and elastic cells.
Water cleaning properties
Water reed can positively influence the water quality by encountering or flowing through water reed areas. The effect of water reed areas on the bacterial compound of water is intense. The number of pathogenic bacteria (virus for infectious disease like cholera, ruhr, typhus) is lowered to 1/10 of the initial value. Water reed discharges antibiotic drapery both in rhizosphere and in water.
Frost resistance
Water reed is frost resistant by level adaptation to –17,5 °C. Furthermore water reed can resist winter frost up to –40 °C by if it is covered by water.
