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Spreading and sticking agent

Range of surfactants for the agrochemical industry includes:

  • Nonionic emulsifiers for emulsion concentrates (ECs), Micro emulsions (MEs) and Emulsion in water (EWs)
  • Anionic emulsifiers for ECs, MEs and EWs
  • Anionic/nonionic blended emulsifiers for ECs, MEs and EWs
  • Nonionic, anionic and anionic/nonionic blended dispersants for Suspension Concentrates (SCs), Wettable powders (WPs) and Water dispersable granules (WDGs)
  • Polymeric (anionic and nonionic) dispersants for Suspo-emulsions (SEs), SCs and WDGs
  • Solid surfactants for WDGs and WPs
  • Built in adjuvants (wetting agents) for herbicides including glyphosate, paraquat, glufosinate and diclofop-methyl
  • Tank added adjuvants for use in broad acre, horticulture and plantation applications with herbicides, insecticides and fungicides
  • Emulsifiers for paraffinic and seed oil based tank added adjuvants including, winter oils, summer oils and white oils

Spreading and Sticking Agent

Activator adjuvant modifies biological effects of the pesticide being applied via improved wetting characteristics of the solution greater coverage of the target, rain fastness, or improved permeability of the cuticle. The plant cuticle restricts uptake of pesticide into the leaf. Surfactants can improve pesticide transfer across the cuticle enabling the pesticide to enter the leaf translocate to cellular targets & manifest the desired effect on the plant. The HLB of the surfactant determines the extent to which the cuticle may be hydrated. Surfactant geometry and molecular size also determine the speed of diffusion of surfactant into & through the plant cuticle.

Wetting is a key attribute for activator adjuvants, so they must first reduce surface of the liquid spray mixture. Spreading, or increasing the area covered by a single spray droplet is useful for surface functioning pesticides, but is not normally favorable for uptake of systemic pesticides.

Penetration agent may soften, plasticize, or dissolve surface wax deposits, which then may further induce swelling or disruption of the cuticular waxes to permit further adjuvant effect such as absorption & translocation.