Glycerol-Modified Silicone Spreading Agent for pH-Stable Surface Activity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural surfactants, including silicone-based ones, face challenges in maintaining surface activity across varying pH levels and have high surface tension, which hinders the uniform spreading and efficacy of agricultural chemicals on plant leaves.
Innovation Solution
The development of glycerol-modified silicones with specific structural formulas that reduce surface tension and enhance surface activity, allowing for better spreading and penetration of agricultural chemicals by forming a composition with oil agents, nonionic surfactants, and water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional silicone surfactants or polyether-modified silicones are used, then surface activity is improved, but surface activity decreases in acidic or alkaline pH conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by combining silicone backbone structures with polyether side chains and hydroxyl groups. This composite structure integrates the low toxicity of silicones with the pH stability of polyether and hydroxyl groups, resolving the contradiction between surface activity and pH stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the silicone structure by introducing specific functional groups (polyether chains and hydroxyl groups) at controlled positions. This modifies the molecular properties to maintain surface activity across a broader pH range while preserving the core silicone functionality.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If hydrocarbon oils or plant extract oils are used as spray agents, then insecticidal effect is improved, but surface tension is high and wetting ability is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the glycerol-modified silicone as an intermediary substance that bridges the gap between high surface tension oils and plant leaves. The silicone reduces surface tension and improves wetting, allowing the oil-based insecticidal agents to spread effectively without losing their insecticidal properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the surface tension parameter of the oil spray agent by adding the glycerol-modified silicone surfactant. This chemical modification allows the oil to maintain its insecticidal effectiveness while achieving the low surface tension needed for good wetting and spreading on leaf surfaces.
3Quantity of substance
If existing silicones are used to reduce surface tension, then surface activity needs improvement, but current silicones do not provide sufficient surface activity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating hydroxyl groups at specific locations on the silicone molecule (in the side chains rather than the backbone). This localized placement of polar groups enhances surface activity and hydrogen bonding capability without compromising the overall silicone structure and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the molecular structure parameters by modifying the silicone backbone with glycerol units containing multiple hydroxyl groups. This structural parameter change increases the polarity and hydrogen bonding capacity of the silicone, thereby significantly improving surface activity and wetting performance.
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 glycerol-modified silicones significantly reduce the surface tension of agricultural chemicals, enabling them to spread widely and uniformly on plant leaves, thereby enhancing their pesticidal or insecticidal efficacy and promoting better penetration.
Implementation Method 1
The glycerol-modified silicones significantly reduce surface tension of agricultural oil agents to allow them to spread widely and uniformly on leaves
Implementation Method 2
an agricultural spreading agent comprising a surfactant has been used... to evenly spread the agricultural chemicals on the plants... and to promote penetration of the active ingredient into the plant leaves
Data Source
AI summary
A spreading agent for agricultural chemicals, said spreading agent comprising at least one of the glycerol-modified silicone represented by the following formula (1), (2) or (3),wherein R1 can be the same with or different from each other and is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, and fluorinated alkyl groups each having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, p is an integer of from 1 to 3, q is an integer of 1 or 2, and r is an integer of from 0 to 6.