Aqueous Insecticidal Polymer Dispersion for Timber Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aqueous insecticide compositions for protecting lignocellulosic materials, such as timber, from harmful insects are often based on volatile organic solvents and have unsatisfactory resistance to atmospheric corrosion and leaching, especially for sparingly soluble insecticidal active ingredients.
Innovation Solution
An aqueous dispersion of finely divided polymer particles with a cationic surface charge and mean particle size of not more than 500 nm, where the insecticidal active ingredient is incorporated through radical aqueous emulsion polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers, providing a stable and effective insecticidal finish without significant leaching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If aqueous insecticide compositions are formulated using volatile organic solvents, then the active ingredients can be dissolved and applied, but the resistance to atmospheric corrosion and leaching deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces polymer particles as an intermediary carrier system. These polymer particles have been modified to possess both hydrophobic regions (for incorporating the hydrophobic insecticidal active ingredient) and hydrophilic regions (for compatibility with aqueous formulation). This intermediary polymer carrier eliminates the need for volatile organic solvents while maintaining effective delivery and preventing leaching, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and harmful factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite polymer particles that combine different functional properties within a single structure. The polymer particles comprise hydrophobic segments for active ingredient solubility and hydrophilic segments for aqueous compatibility. This composite structure enables the formulation to achieve both effective insecticide delivery and resistance to atmospheric corrosion without relying on volatile organic solvents.
2Reliability
If water-insoluble insecticidal active ingredients are used, then the insecticidal effectiveness is maintained, but the formulations require organic solvents which increase costs and create hygiene and environmental issues
Solution Approach 1:
The polymer particles serve as an intermediary that bridges the gap between water-soluble formulation requirements and water-insoluble active ingredient properties. The hydrophobic regions of the polymer particles provide a suitable environment for the water-insoluble insecticidal active ingredient, while the overall particle structure remains compatible with aqueous formulation, eliminating the need for organic solvents and reducing costs and hygiene issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical-chemical parameters of the formulation system by introducing polymer particles with specific surface charge characteristics and hydrophobicity ratios. This parameter change enables the formulation to accommodate water-insoluble active ingredients while maintaining aqueous compatibility, thus eliminating the need for organic solvents and simplifying manufacturing and hygiene requirements.
3Quantity of substance
If conventional suspensions or microemulsions of organic active ingredients are used, then the active ingredients can be applied, but the stability of the composition deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The polymer particles act as a stable intermediary carrier system. Their dual hydrophobic-hydrophilic structure provides a stable interface for incorporating and delivering the active ingredient. The polymer particles resist aggregation and phase separation, maintaining composition stability while ensuring effective active ingredient delivery, thus resolving the contradiction between quantity of substance and stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution offers improved stability and reduced leaching of the active ingredient, maintaining effective protection against wood-damaging insects like termites and beetles, even under atmospheric influences, with potentially lower application rates and enhanced penetration into lignocellulosic materials.
Implementation Method 1
The insecticidal active ingredient is incorporated into the polymer particles through radical aqueous emulsion polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to aqueous insecticidal preparations in the form of an aqueous dispersion of finely divided polymer particles which comprise at least one insecticidal organic active ingredient with a solubility in water of not more than 5 g/l at 25° C. at 1013 mbar and which have a mean particle size, determined by dynamic light scattering, of not more than 300 nm, where the polymer particles which comprise the at least one insecticidal active ingredient of a cationic surface charge and where the aqueous dispersion of the active-ingredient-comprising polymer particles is obtainable by subjecting a monomer composition of ethylenically unsaturated monomers M, in which the ethylenically unsaturated monomers M comprise the at least one insecticidal active ingredient in dissolved form, to radical aqueous emulsion polymerization. The invention also related to the use of such aqueous insecticide compositions for protecting lignocellulosic materials, in particular timber, against attack by harmful insects.