Hydrophobic-hydrophilic switchable polymers for use in agriculture

• Main Authors: Johnston, Priscilla, Bristow, Keith L, Adhikari, Raju
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 23.08.2018
• Subjects: ADHESIVES; AGRICULTURE; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPSOR SEAWEED; DYES; FISHING; FORESTRY; HORTICULTURE; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HUNTING; MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONSONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS; MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FORELSEWHERE; METALLURGY; MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS; MISCELLANEOUS COMPOSITIONS; NATURAL RESINS; ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; PAINTS; POLISHES; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; TRAPPING; WATERING

A process for regulating the water retention of soil materials used in agriculture involving providing a composition comprising a polymer selected from the group consisting of a urethane, a urethaneurea, a thiocarbamate and mixtures thereof, said polymer comprising hydrophobic and hydrophilic segments; and applying the composition onto soil materials used in agriculture to form a polymer film thereon, wherein the hydrophobic and hydrophilic segments together provide reversible hydrophobic-hydrophilic switching in response to water, such that the film surface switches from a relatively hydrophobic state in dry conditions to a relatively hydrophilic state in response to the presence of water in contact with the film surface.