POLYMERIC FILM

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a film for enhancing the growth of plants in the Cannabaceae family, the film being capable of blocking solar spectrum in the range 430-550 nm. The present disclosure also provides a single- or multi-layer plastic greenhouse film for enhancing cannabis plant growth, where the single- or multi-layer plastic greenhouse film (a) has at least one blue light blocking layer for blocking solar spectrum in the range of 430-500 nm; (b) has a high transmittance for red light in the solar spectrum in the range of 600-750 nm.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A multi-layer plastic greenhouse film for enhancing cannabis plant growth, wherein (a) the film has at least one blue light blocking layer for blocking solar spectrum in the range of 430-500 nm; and (b) the film has a high transmittance for red light in the solar spectrum in the range of 600-750 nm.

3. The film of claim 1, wherein said blue light blocking layer is capable of at least partly blocking the region of the solar spectrum around and/or up to a wavelength in the range 430-490 nm, 440-490 nm, 430-500 nm or 440-500 nm.

4. The film of claim 1, wherein said blue light blocking layer is capable of at least partially blocking the solar spectrum up to a wavelength in the range 430-500 nm.

5. The film of claim 1, wherein said blue light blocking layer is capable of blocking the intensity of 430-500 nm region of the solar spectrum by 20-40%.

6. The film of claim 1, wherein said blue light blocking layer is capable of blocking the intensity of 430-500 nm region of the solar spectrum by 40-60%.

7. The film of claim 1, wherein said blue light blocking layer is capable of blocking the intensity of 430-500 nm region of the solar spectrum by 60-100% or by 80-100%.

8. (canceled)

9. The film of claim 1, wherein said blue light blocking layer absorbs the blue light in the solar radiation around and/or up to approximately: 430 nm, 440 nm, 450 nm, 460 nm, 470 nm, 480 nm, 490 nm, or 500 nm.

10. The film of claim 1, wherein said blue light blocking layer blocks all blue light wavelengths up to and including 430 nm, 440 nm, 450 nm, 460 nm 470 nm, 480 nm, 490 nm, or 500 nm.

11. The film of claim 1, wherein said film has a transmittance of 75%-100% for red light in the solar spectrum.

12. The film of claim 1, wherein said film has an overall transmittance for red light in the solar spectrum at 60-80% or larger than 80%.

13. (canceled)

14. The film of claim 1, in which the film is formed using blow extrusion technology.

15. The film of claim 1, in which the film is formed using cast extrusion technology.

16. The film of claim 1, in which the or at least one of the layers of the film comprises: polyethylene, poly ethylene-vinyl acetate, polypropylene, or polyamide.

17. The film of claim 1, comprising one or more of the following: UV absorber additives; one or more pigment additives an anti-fogging agent and an infrared blocker.

18. The film of claim 1, comprising one or more UV absorber additives that are capable of blocking 250-400 nm and one or more pigment additives.

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. The film of claim 1, comprising one or more UV absorber additives and one or more orange pigment additives.

22. The film of claim 1, comprising one or more UV absorber additives and one or more yellow pigment additives.

23. The film of claim 1, in which the film comprises an additive for modifying the transmitted light spectrum.

24. The film of claim 1, in which the film comprises an additive for blocking the transmitted light spectrum.

25. A polyethylene-based greenhouse film which promotes or enhances the growth of cannabis plants compared to standard, clear polyethylene film, in which growth is promoted or enhanced in terms of one or more of: accelerating the growth period; faster flowering time; promoting bigger and denser flowers; producing higher levels of cannabinoids; or producing higher THC and/or CBD concentration.

26. (canceled)

27. (canceled)

Description

EXAMPLES

Example 1

[0051] Structure of a 7-layer blue light blocking film for enhancing cannabis growth:

TABLE-US-00001 Layer # Layer % Main Ingredients 1 inner 19 polyethylene blend; UV light inhibitor 2 22 polyethylene blend; blue light blocking additive; UV light inhibitor 3 8.5 polyethylene blend; UV light inhibitor 4 3 polyethylene blend; UV light inhibitor 5 8.5 polyethylene blend; UV light inhibitor 6 20 polyethylene blend; blue light blocking additive; UV light inhibitor 7 outer 19 polyethylene blend; UV light inhibitor

Example 2

[0052] Structure of a diffused 7-layer blue light blocking film for enhancing cannabis growth:

TABLE-US-00002 Layer # Layer % Main Ingredients 1 inner 20 polyethylene blend; UV light inhibitor; light diffuser 2 20 polyethylene blend; blue light blocking additive; UV light inhibitor 3 8 polyethylene blend; UV light inhibitor; light diffuser 4 4 polyethylene blend; UV light inhibitor 5 8 polyethylene blend; UV light inhibitor; light diffuser 6 20 polyethylene blend; blue light blocking additive; UV light inhibitor 7 outer 20 polyethylene blend; UV light inhibitor; light diffuser

Example 3

[0053] A 150 urn thick 7-layer polyethylene-based orange greenhouse film having two layers containing blue light blocker is used to grow cannabis plants. The overall PAR light transmission of the film is 70%. The overall 430-500 nm blue light transmission is 50%. The overall 600-750 nm red light transmission of the film is 95%. Cannabis plants are grown at a controlled temperature ranging from 23 to 30 degree Celsius. The greenhouse has 12-hour per day sunlight following a 12-hour per day total black out. Cannabis plants grown using this film reach maturity much faster than control plants and produce more THC per plant or per weight.

Example 4

[0054] A 152.4 um thick 5-layer polyethylene-based orange greenhouse film having three layers containing blue light blocker is used to grow cannabis plants. The overall PAR light transmission of the film is 68%. The overall 430-500 nm blue light transmission is 40%. The overall 600-750 nm red light transmission of the film is 90%. The greenhouse film has a light diffusion rate of 65%. Cannabis plants are grown at a controlled temperature ranging from 25 to 28 degree Celsius. The greenhouse has 14-hour per day sunlight following a 10-hour per day total black out. Cannabis plants grown using this film reach maturity much faster than control plants and produce more THC per plant or per weight.

[0055] Example Trial Results

[0056] FIG. 1 shows a greenhouse using a blue blocking film formed in accordance with the present invention.

[0057] Referring also to FIG. 2, general observations about the blue blocking film: the flowering period was much quicker than observed with a standard clear polyethylene film used for comparison. The flowering period was 6.5 to 7.5 weeks compared to 8 to 9 weeks with standard film (about 18-20% shorter). The flowers are much harder and denser; one could say they appeared to be more “finished”. Also there is visibly much more trichome and resin production.

[0058] In this embodiment the film is a 7-layer co-extruded film made of polyethylene where the blue light blocker is added into four layers (layers 2, 3, 5 and 6 in this embodiment; in another embodiment it is, for example, added into two layers: 2 and 6). The film used is formed generally in accordance with the following recipe:

TABLE-US-00003 Layer 1 19% Description % LDPE 15.00 LLDPE 71.00 UV master batch 9.00 Slip master batch 4.00 Process aid master batch 1.00

TABLE-US-00004 Layer 2 22% Description % LLDPE 88.50 UV master batch 9.00 Blue block master batch 2.50

TABLE-US-00005 Layer 3 8.5% Description % LDPE 68.50 LLDPE 20.00 UV master batch 9.00 Blue block master batch 2.50

TABLE-US-00006 Layer 4 3% Description % LDPE 71.00 LLDPE 20.00 UV master batch 9.00

TABLE-US-00007 Layer 5 8.5% Description % LDPE 68.50 LLDPE 20.00 UV master batch 9.00 Blue block master batch 2.50

TABLE-US-00008 Layer 6 20% Description % LLDPE 88.50 UV master batch 9.00 Blue block master batch 2.50

TABLE-US-00009 Layer 7 19% Description % LDPE 71.00 LLDPE 15.00 UV master batch 9.00 Slip master batch 4.00 Process aid master batch 1.00

[0059] In this embodiment slip agent and process aid (PPA: polymer processing aid) are added only to layers 1 and 7.

[0060] The UV masterbatch may be a UV absorbing and/or UV stabilising masterbatch.

[0061] An example of blue light block is produced by Ampacet.

[0062] The use of slip agents for polyethylene films reduces the Friction Coefficient (COF) while maintaining optic properties such as brilliance, transparency, and clarity. They may also be used jointly with “anti-block” agents.

[0063] The present inventions can be embodied in other specific apparatus and/or methods. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. In particular, the scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the description and figures herein. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.