A moisture barrier coating includes the reaction product of (A) at least one polyglycidyl ether resin, and (B) at least one epoxy curing agent comprising amines. The moisture barrier coating further includes at least one amorphous thermoplastic material that is nonreactive with A and with B, and that forms a homogeneous mixture with at least one of A or B. A controlled release fertilizer, a method for the production of a controlled release fertilizer, and a moisture barrier coating system are also disclosed.

A moisture barrier coating includes the reaction product of (A) at least one polyglycidyl ether resin, and (B) at least one epoxy curing agent comprising amines. The moisture barrier coating further includes at least one amorphous thermoplastic material that is nonreactive with A and with B, and that forms a homogeneous mixture with at least one of A or B. A controlled release fertilizer, a method for the production of a controlled release fertilizer, and a moisture barrier coating system are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a method for encapsulating a compound selected from the group consisting of at least one active substance, at least one microorganism and mixtures thereof in an organic-inorganic hybrid material of 2:1 lamellar structure, said material having the following general formula I: Na.sub.x[(Mg.sub.3)(Al.sub.x(RSi).sub.4x)O.sub.8+x(OH).sub.2] (I) the method comprising: a) sol-gel synthesis of the organic-inorganic hybrid material of 2:1 lamellar structure in the presence of the compound; b) recovery of the compound encapsulated in the material of general formula I.

It further relates to the compound encapsulated in an organic-inorganic hybrid material of 2:1 lamellar structure of general formula I, a composition comprising same and its use for fertilizing, feeding, stimulating growth and/or prophylaxis of plants and/or improvement of the physical, chemical and/or biological properties of the soil or of the culture substrate of plants.

The present invention relates to a method for encapsulating a compound selected from the group consisting of at least one active substance, at least one microorganism and mixtures thereof in an organic-inorganic hybrid material of 2:1 lamellar structure, said material having the following general formula I: Na.sub.x[(Mg.sub.3)(Al.sub.x(RSi).sub.4x)O.sub.8+x(OH).sub.2] (I) the method comprising: a) sol-gel synthesis of the organic-inorganic hybrid material of 2:1 lamellar structure in the presence of the compound; b) recovery of the compound encapsulated in the material of general formula I.

It further relates to the compound encapsulated in an organic-inorganic hybrid material of 2:1 lamellar structure of general formula I, a composition comprising same and its use for fertilizing, feeding, stimulating growth and/or prophylaxis of plants and/or improvement of the physical, chemical and/or biological properties of the soil or of the culture substrate of plants.

Disclosed is a method of coating fertilizer particles with a coating, the method comprising providing fertilizer particles in a coating unit, one or more steps of applying a coating layer by applying one or more coating components to the fertilizer particles in the coating unit, and at least, partially curing or hardening the coating layer, wherein said curing or hardening involves a chemical reaction of said one or more coating components, discharging the coated fertilizer particles from the coating unit, optionally after a final cure or hardening step, wherein the coating unit comprises a stationary frame and at least two movable elements.

Described herein are blends of carbohydrate-based polymeric materials with other polymeric materials, where the carbohydrate-based polymeric material is intimately blended with the other polymeric material, so as to exhibit very small particles sizes (e.g., less than 2 m, or less than 1 m) for the carbohydrate-based polymeric material in the matrix of the other polymeric material. Such intimate dispersion of very small particles provides for far more of the particles dispersed more evenly throughout the matrix of the other polymeric material, which may enhance various performance characteristics of the blended composite material, and provide for more consistent achievement of such characteristics, from batch to batch. Methods of producing articles from such blends exhibiting such small particles and excellent dispersion are also disclosed. While suitable for use in a wide variety of fields, examples may include for the coating of paper cups, and as a capsule material for sustained release fertilizer.

Described herein are blends of carbohydrate-based polymeric materials with other polymeric materials, where the carbohydrate-based polymeric material is intimately blended with the other polymeric material, so as to exhibit very small particles sizes (e.g., less than 2 m, or less than 1 m) for the carbohydrate-based polymeric material in the matrix of the other polymeric material. Such intimate dispersion of very small particles provides for far more of the particles dispersed more evenly throughout the matrix of the other polymeric material, which may enhance various performance characteristics of the blended composite material, and provide for more consistent achievement of such characteristics, from batch to batch. Methods of producing articles from such blends exhibiting such small particles and excellent dispersion are also disclosed. While suitable for use in a wide variety of fields, examples may include for the coating of paper cups, and as a capsule material for sustained release fertilizer.

The present invention relates to a controlled-release fertilizer, including: a photodegradable capsule including a binder resin containing a polyolefin and an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, and a photocatalytic composite in which a (co)polymer including at least one repeating unit selected from the group consisting of an ethylene repeating unit and a vinyl acetate repeating unit is bonded to the surface or inside of agglomerates of inorganic fine particles; and a fertilizer contained in a space surrounded by the photodegradable capsule.

The present invention relates to a controlled-release fertilizer, including: a photodegradable capsule including a binder resin containing a polyolefin and an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, and a photocatalytic composite in which a (co)polymer including at least one repeating unit selected from the group consisting of an ethylene repeating unit and a vinyl acetate repeating unit is bonded to the surface or inside of agglomerates of inorganic fine particles; and a fertilizer contained in a space surrounded by the photodegradable capsule.

An agricultural adjuvant includes microfibrillated cellulose, a dispersant or wetting agent, in a liquid carrier that has been subjected to shear conditions. The resultant adjuvant displays useful rheological structure and the adjuvant is added to agricultural formulations to stabilize and impart useful rheology to the formulations.