Composite Surfactant System for Agricultural Chemical Wetting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing agricultural chemical compositions often fail to achieve sufficient wetting and spreading on plant leaves, leading to reduced efficacy of herbicides, pesticides, and other agricultural chemicals.

Innovation Solution

A composition containing specific polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, (poly)glycerol fatty acid esters, and alkyl saccharides, combined with polyoxyalkylene alkyl ethers and aliphatic alcohols, which improve wetting and spreading performances by reducing interfacial tension and surface tension, enhancing the efficacy of agricultural chemicals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional surfactants are used in agricultural chemical compositions, then some wetting effect is achieved, but sufficient wetting and spreading on plant leaves cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewetting efficacyVSAvoidinsufficient spreading

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple specific surfactant compounds (polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester, (poly)glycerol fatty acid ester, and alkyl saccharide) into a composite surfactant system. This composite approach creates synergistic effects that achieve superior wetting and spreading performance compared to conventional single surfactants, fully resolving the wetting efficacy problem on plant leaves.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If agricultural chemical composition is applied to plant leaves, then chemical delivery is achieved, but penetration and efficacy are reduced due to poor wetting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechemical deliveryVSAvoidpenetration efficacy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes specific parameters of the surfactant molecules including carbon chain lengths (C12-C18), ethylene oxide chain lengths (EO5-EO20), and molecular structures to achieve optimal surface tension reduction. This parameter optimization enables the agricultural chemical composition to penetrate plant leaf surfaces effectively, converting poor penetration into reliable chemical delivery with enhanced efficacy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 composition significantly improves the wetting and spreading of agricultural chemicals on plant leaves, leading to enhanced efficacy and penetration, thereby increasing the effectiveness of herbicides, pesticides, and other active ingredients.

Implementation Method 1

improve wetting and spreading performances by reducing interfacial tension and surface tension

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface tension reduction: Surface Tension

Implementation Method 2

improve wetting and spreading performances

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWetting: Wetting

Data Source

PatentUS10188101B2Method for producing an agricultural product

Publication Date: 2019.01.29 KAO CORP

AI summary

The present invention provides the efficacy-enhancing agent composition for an agricultural chemical containing at least one compound (A) selected from specific ethoxylate compounds, specific polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters, specific polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, specific (poly)glycerol fatty acid esters, and specific alkyl saccharides; and at least one compound (B) selected from specific polyoxyalkylene alkyl ethers and specific aliphatic alcohols.