Seed Treatment Suspension Formulations With High Load Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-load agrochemical formulations face challenges with sedimentation, syneresis, and viscosity issues, leading to instability and difficulty in application, particularly in seed treatment formulations.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating glycols, such as propylene glycol, and/or glycerin into seed treatment suspension formulations to enhance yield stress while maintaining low viscosity, thereby improving stability and preventing sedimentation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the load of active agricultural ingredients is increased, then application rates may be reduced, but the formulations exhibit high accumulation rates of solids leading to viscous mixtures that are difficult to mix, pump, or apply
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the rheological parameters of the formulation by incorporating specific polymers and surfactants that modify the viscosity and flow characteristics. This allows the formulation to maintain high active ingredient load while achieving optimal viscosity for easy mixing and application, resolving the contradiction between productivity and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite formulation systems combining multiple components including polymers, surfactants, and active ingredients in specific ratios. This composite approach enables the formulation to achieve both high productivity through reduced application rates and ease of operation through optimized rheological properties.
2Productivity
If the load of active agricultural ingredients is increased, then application rates may be reduced, but heat generation during milling is of concern
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the formulation parameters by incorporating heat-transfer modulating agents and optimizing the particle size distribution of active ingredients. This enables reduced application rates while controlling heat generation during milling through optimized thermal parameters of the formulation system.
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional stabilization methods are used, then sedimentation may be prevented, but the formulations are prone to syneresis or flocculation and form hard packed sedimentation layers that are difficult to resuspend
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the stabilization mechanism by incorporating polymers that provide steric hindrance and surfactants that modify surface tension, preventing both sedimentation and syneresis. This dual mechanism maintains long-term stability while preventing the formation of hard packed layers, resolving the contradiction between sedimentation resistance and long-term reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite stabilization systems combining polymers and surfactants that work synergistically to prevent multiple degradation mechanisms including sedimentation, syneresis, and flocculation. This composite approach ensures both sedimentation resistance and long-term reliability by addressing multiple stability issues simultaneously.
4Stability of the object's composition
If polymer overlap and entropic loss are used for suspension stabilization, then sedimentation may be resisted, but the formulations exhibit high accumulation rates of solids
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the stabilization parameters by incorporating polymers at optimized concentrations and using surfactants that modify the interaction between polymer chains and solid particles. This enables sedimentation resistance while controlling the accumulation rate of solids through optimized rheological parameters.
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 formulations exhibit significantly lower syneresis and higher yield stress, allowing for higher active ingredient loads with improved stability and easier application, even after one year.
Implementation Method 1
The seed treatment suspension formulations of the invention exhibit a yield stress greater than that achievable by addition of conventional surfactants and xanthan gum. In some embodiments, the yield stress necessary to prevent sedimentation can be achieved at a lower viscosity.
Implementation Method 2
In some embodiments, the yield stress necessary to prevent sedimentation can be achieved at a lower viscosity.
Implementation Method 3
The inventors also surprisingly found the formulations described herein have a significantly lower syneresis compared to commercially available formulations over time (e.g., 1 year).
Implementation Method 4
high-load formulations are prone to sedimentation and syneresis or flocculation (i.e., the process of contact and adhesion whereby the particles of a dispersion form larger-size clusters)
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides for agrochemical formulations capable of carrying high active ingredient loads and having improved stability. The disclosure further provides for methods of making and using high-load agrochemical formulations having improved stability.