THIN INVERT COMPOSITIONS FOR SPRAY APPLICATION

摘要

A thin invert composition and method for applying agricultural products to a target area with minimal drift or evaporation is based on a water and oil mixture which is emulsified by minimal agitation so as to provide a low viscosity emulsion. The emulsion, when sprayed through small spray orifices (e.g., 0.020 inch internal diameter) forms a thin invert wherein the water phase is enclosed in the oil phase and the droplet size is small (e.g., 1000 microns mean diameter) and uniform. The water phase carries a hydrophilic active agricultural product. The mixture can have 20 to 50% oil phase by weight, and 50 to 80% water phase by weight, the water phase containing the active hydrophilic product of up to 75% by weight of the water phase. According to the composition and the method disclosed, the surface tension of the droplets formed when spraying is the primary factor determining droplet size, and is kept small and uniform for thorough application to leafy surfaces and the like.