PVA–Surfactant Herbicide Compositions for Rainfastness

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing herbicidal formulations face challenges in achieving adequate rainfastness and herbicidal efficacy, requiring significant experimental work to develop suitable formulations that can withstand rainfall and maintain effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

Combinations of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with specific surfactants and herbicidal active ingredients, including glufosinate, glyphosate, MCPA, dicamba, and dichlorprop, enhance rainfastness and herbicidal properties by optimizing the distribution and retention of the active ingredients on plant surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional herbicidal formulations are used, then application simplicity is maintained, but rainfastness and herbicidal efficacy are inadequate

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines polyvinyl alcohol with specific surfactants (alkyl polyglycosides, alkyl ether sulfates, or alkyl amine ethoxylates) to create a composite formulation system. This composite approach enhances rainfastness and herbicidal efficacy by leveraging the synergistic effects of PVA's film-forming properties and the surfactants' wetting and distribution capabilities, resolving the contradiction between improved reliability and formulation complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for the formulation components: PVA at 0.1-10% by weight, surfactants at 0.01-5% by weight, and herbicidal active ingredients at 1-80% by weight. By optimizing these parameters within defined ranges, the formulation achieves superior rainfastness and efficacy while maintaining manageable complexity through systematic parameter control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If water-based formulations are used, then organic solvent content is reduced, but distribution of constituents is inadequate

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces surfactants as intermediary substances that mediate between the water-based formulation and the herbicidal active ingredients. These surfactants improve the distribution and dispersion of constituents in the aqueous medium, enabling adequate mixing and stability without requiring organic solvents, thus resolving the contradiction between reduced harmful factors and composition stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If standard formulations are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but experimental work required is excessive

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes a pre-defined formulation framework with specific component ratios and concentration ranges that have been optimized in advance. This preliminary structuring of the formulation system allows for faster development of effective herbicidal products by reducing the need for extensive experimental trial-and-error, thereby improving productivity while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through systematic design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 PVA-surfactant combinations exhibit improved rainfastness and herbicidal efficacy, allowing the formulations to retain effectiveness after rainfall and irrigation, reducing the need for multiple applications.

Implementation Method 1

combinations of polyvinyl alcohol and compositions of water-soluble active herbicidal ingredients containing certain surfactants have such improved properties, in particular improved rainfastness and/or herbicidal properties

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurfactant: Surfactant

Implementation Method 2

A product remaining to a higher portion on the leave surfaces after a rain event allows for more of the pesticide to penetrate into the leave and providing weed control activity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP3829301B1Combinations containing PVA and certain herbicides with improved properties

Publication Date: 2025.08.06

AI summary

The present invention relates to the technical field of crop protection. More specifically, the invention relates to combinations of (I) polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and (II) a composition comprising one or more water soluble herbicidal active ingredients and certain further constituents, said combination having improved properties, in particular regarding rainfastness and/or herbicidal efficacy. The invention also relates to the use of such combinations.