Interpolymers useful for enhancing the efficacy of nutrients in soil and fertilizers; and methods of inhibiting the precipitation of, and/or dispersing, inorganic elements.

Interpolymers useful for enhancing the efficacy of nutrients in soil and fertilizers; and methods of inhibiting the precipitation of, and/or dispersing, inorganic elements.

A mixture for treating a hydrophobic surface and a method for treating hydrophobic surfaces is provided. The mixture comprises: a wetting agent comprising; a compound of Formula I:

R.sup.1((CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.nR.sup.2).sub.x  Formula I wherein: R.sup.1 is a core group derived from a linear, cyclic or branched polyol with 1-55 carbons or a linear, cyclic or branched polyamine with 1-22 carbons wherein hydrogens on the alcohol group or hydrogens on the amine group are replaced with (CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.n or R.sup.1 is defined by —R.sup.6(—C(═O)O—).sub.m; R.sup.2 is a hydrophobic group preferably selected from the group consisting of R.sup.3, the elements necessary to form an ester, specifically —COR.sup.4, or the elements necessary to form a urethane, specifically —CONHR.sup.5; R.sup.3-R.sup.5 are each independently an alkyl of 6-22 carbons, wherein the alkyl is a linear, cyclic or branched and preferably linear; n, on average is 4-100; x is 2-20; R.sup.6 represents a bond or a linear, cyclic or branched alkyl with 6-22 carbons; and m is 2-20.

A mixture for treating a hydrophobic surface and a method for treating hydrophobic surfaces is provided. The mixture comprises: a wetting agent comprising; a compound of Formula I:

R.sup.1((CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.nR.sup.2).sub.x  Formula I wherein: R.sup.1 is a core group derived from a linear, cyclic or branched polyol with 1-55 carbons or a linear, cyclic or branched polyamine with 1-22 carbons wherein hydrogens on the alcohol group or hydrogens on the amine group are replaced with (CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.n or R.sup.1 is defined by —R.sup.6(—C(═O)O—).sub.m; R.sup.2 is a hydrophobic group preferably selected from the group consisting of R.sup.3, the elements necessary to form an ester, specifically —COR.sup.4, or the elements necessary to form a urethane, specifically —CONHR.sup.5; R.sup.3-R.sup.5 are each independently an alkyl of 6-22 carbons, wherein the alkyl is a linear, cyclic or branched and preferably linear; n, on average is 4-100; x is 2-20; R.sup.6 represents a bond or a linear, cyclic or branched alkyl with 6-22 carbons; and m is 2-20.

The invention relates to a process for producing polymer composites suitable for absorbing and storing aqueous liquids, to the polymer composites obtainable by this process, and to the use of the polymer composites. The process comprises free-radical polymerization of a monomer composition M comprising 50 to 100% by weight, based on the total amount of monomers A and B, of at least one monomer A having one ethylenic double bond and at least one neutralizable acid group, 0 to 50% by weight of optionally one or more comonomers B which are different than the monomers A and have one ethylenic double bond, and 1 to 10% by weight, based on the total amount of monomers A and B, of at least one crosslinker C.

The invention relates to a process for producing polymer composites suitable for absorbing and storing aqueous liquids, to the polymer composites obtainable by this process, and to the use of the polymer composites. The process comprises free-radical polymerization of a monomer composition M comprising 50 to 100% by weight, based on the total amount of monomers A and B, of at least one monomer A having one ethylenic double bond and at least one neutralizable acid group, 0 to 50% by weight of optionally one or more comonomers B which are different than the monomers A and have one ethylenic double bond, and 1 to 10% by weight, based on the total amount of monomers A and B, of at least one crosslinker C.

Provided is a method and mixture for treating a hydrophobic surface. The mixture comprises a wetting agent comprising;

a compound of Formula I:

##STR00001##

wherein:
R and R′ are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C.sub.1-24 alkyl, aryl, C.sub.1-24 alkylaryl, aryl(C.sub.1-24)alkyl, —C(═O)—R.sup.1, C(═O)—NHR.sup.1, and C(═O)—O—R.sup.1 wherein R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1-24 alkyl, aryl, C.sub.1-24 alkylaryl, C.sub.1-24 arylalkyl; A is an organic moiety derived from the group consisting of alkylene oxides having 4-12 carbon atoms and aryl epoxides having 8-12 carbon atoms; x=1-300; y=0-200; z=0-200; and
with the proviso that R and R′ cannot be H or ether functionality at the same time; and a compound of Formula II:

[R.sup.2O—(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.x—(CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3)O).sub.y].sub.z—P(O)(OM).sub.3-z  Formula II

where R.sup.2 is C1-C24 alkyl, aryl, alkaryl; x=0-20; y=0-20; z=1 or 2 and M is H, Na, K, Ca, Mg or Li.

Interpolymers useful for enhancing the efficacy of nutrients in soil and fertilizers; and methods of inhibiting the precipitation of, and/or dispersing, inorganic elements.

Interpolymers useful for enhancing the efficacy of nutrients in soil and fertilizers; and methods of inhibiting the precipitation of, and/or dispersing, inorganic elements.

A method including providing an aqueous mixture containing a sulfonated aromatic polymer component and applying the aqueous mixture to an aggregation of particulates sufficient to increase the water holding capacity of the aggregation of particulates.