Quick Drying Polymeric Coating for Fertilizer Application
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural copolymer compositions for fertilizers face issues with slow drying times, leading to handling difficulties and incomplete application, especially in high humidity or low temperatures, and incompatibility with organic solvents, resulting in unsuitable viscous precipitates.
Innovation Solution
The development of quick-drying polymer compositions incorporating a salt of a copolymer with maleic and itaconic moieties combined with a volatile organic drying agent, supplemented with boron and bimodal vinylic polymers, which allows for stable liquid formulations and rapid moisture evaporation, enabling efficient field application without yield reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If aqueous copolymer mixture is sprayed onto solid fertilizers to provide fertilizer-polymer compositions, then yield benefits are achieved, but drying time becomes excessive causing handling difficulties and application problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the copolymer to achieve faster drying. Specifically, it uses copolymers with carboxyl groups that have higher affinity for metal ions present in fertilizers, accelerating water evaporation and reducing drying time while maintaining yield benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces metal ions (such as calcium, magnesium, or other divalent/trivalent cations) as intermediaries that facilitate the drying process. These metal ions interact with the carboxyl groups of the copolymer to form crosslinked structures that accelerate water removal and reduce drying time.
2Loss of time
If organic solvents are mixed with polycarboxylate polymer salts to reduce drying time, then drying speed improves, but the polymer and solvent become incompatible forming viscous precipitates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the polymer structure by incorporating carboxyl groups that can coordinate with metal ions, creating a stable complex that remains soluble in organic solvents. This structural modification allows the use of organic solvents as drying agents without forming precipitates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite system where the copolymer with carboxyl groups forms a stable complex with metal ions in the presence of organic solvents. This composite structure maintains solution stability while enabling rapid drying through the volatile organic solvent.
3Productivity
If relatively wet solid fertilizers with applied aqueous copolymer are handled in field application equipment, then application can proceed, but agglomerations form making even spreading difficult or impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the copolymer composition to include carboxyl groups that accelerate drying through metal ion interaction. This parameter change reduces the moisture content and prevents agglomeration formation during handling, enabling smooth field application.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the copolymer composition in a form that initiates rapid drying upon contact with fertilizer surfaces. This preliminary action of accelerated drying prevents moisture-related agglomeration before the material enters handling equipment, ensuring ease of operation.
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 provides significant increases in crop yields by ensuring rapid drying and stability of the polymer compositions, allowing for easy handling and even application, while maintaining the yield benefits of the polymer-coated fertilizers.
Implementation Method 1
the water is allowed to evaporate by mass transfer, leaving a solid polymer residue coating
Implementation Method 2
an aqueous copolymer mixture is applied by spraying or other means onto solid fertilizers to provide fertilizer-polymer compositions
Data Source
AI summary
Improved agriculturally useful products are provided, including solid materials such as nitrogenous fertilizers (e.g., urea), together with a polycarboxylated polymer selected from the group consisting of a salts of copolymers containing individual quantities of maleic and itaconic moieties. The polymer composition also includes from about 10-60% by weight of an organic drying agent such as a lower alcohol which enhances the quick drying properties thereof. The compositions may also include an amount of boron, and bimodal vinylic polymer made up of quantities of high and low molecular weight (MW) vinylic polymers such as PVA.