Impregnation:

liquid product will penetrate inside the porosity of the media.
You can soak up the support with water… which will come out later.
You can soak up the support with resin that will fix itself inside. (not really sensitive to abrasion, but more durable than paint) resins molecules are really different from the mineral molecules and their ‘marriage’ will not last.  It’s like when made a vinaigrette, mix some vinegar and oil, after a while the vinegar separates from oil…
Molecules that look alike will have a much more sustainable ‘marriage’.

Mineralization:

You can soak up the support with liquid silica which will either produce a dry extract (which will dissolve later in contact water) or in some cases crystallize (this is the case of the ProtecD). Incorporate the crystallized silica (definition of the manufacture of the glass) inside the material, it is to add ‘mineral’ molecules, said “mineralize.
Stone or concrete are minerals, glass also, ‘marriage’ is so much more ‘compatible ‘.