SIPERNAT® Products for Optimized Crop Protection Formulations

An increasing population, the need for natural and sustainable resources in our energy, material life cycles and a changing world climate make it obligatory for us all to improve with greater urgency the efficiency of agricultural production processes. Applying efficient crop protection formulations is one of the most important measures to meet these requirements.

With the choice of SIPERNAT^® precipitated silica, AEROSIL^® fumded silica and BREAK-Thru^® Additives (Evonik Goldschmidt GmbH*) we provide a broad portfolio enabling the agrochemical industry to enhance the functionality of their liquid and solid crop protection formulations.

This selection from one supplier combined with the corresponding application support is unique.

Solid Formulations

Solid agrochemical formulations have been known for many years in the industry. Examples for solid formulation types are wettable powders (WP), granules (GR) and water dispersible granules (WG).

A clear advantage of granulated formulations is that they leave almost no contamination in the empty package. Additionally powders may create dust, which is undesirable in terms of user safety. Therefore, powder formulations are more and more replaced by granule formulations or liquid systems.

SIPERNAT^® precipitated silica and AEROSIL^® fumed silica are used in solid formulations as flow aid, anti-caking aid, milling aid and as carrier for liquid active ingredients. WP formulations treated with SIPERNAT^® or AEROSIL^® products are dry, free-flowing and do not tend to cake on storage.

In granules for direct application in the field, however, large particle size silica can be advantageous. Those grades can be used as carrier for liquid or low melting actives providing both a free flowing as well a non-caking absorbate. The granular shape of the absorbate is already predesigned with the silica. No additional granulation step is necessary.

Overview of SIPERNAT^® Precipitated Silica Types for Solid Crop Protection Formulations

SIPERNAT^® resp. AEROSIL^® type

SIPERNAT^® 22 1), SIPERNAT^® 50 1), SIPERNAT^® 22 S, SIPERNAT^® 50 S, SIPERNAT^® 320, SIPERNAT^® 350

Hydrophilic precipitated silica can be used as carrier in WP and WG formulations

SIPERNAT^® 22 S, SIPERNAT^® 50 S , SIPERNAT^® 350, AEROSIL^® 200

Hydrophilic precipitated silica and hydrophilic fumed silica provide good properties as flow aid and anti caking agent in WP’s and WG’s.

SIPERNAT^® 22, SIPERNAT^® 50

Hydrophilic precipitated silica especially appropriate as grinding aid in WP and WG formulations

SIPERNAT^® 2200

Micro-granular hydrophilic silica can be used as carrier for granules, which are directly applied to the field.

SIPERNAT^® D 17

Hydrophobic precipitated silica, can slow down the penetration of moisture, e.g. in seed coatings.

1) Grinding of the whole formulation is necessary

Liquid Formulations

Liquid formulations of agrochemical products occupy an important share in the pesticides market. These formulations are developed to improve safe handling of the active ingredients. Examples for liquid formulations are Emulsifiable Concentrates (EC), Oil Dispersions (OD) or Suspension Concentrates (SC).

The use of AEROSIL^® fumed silica supports very much these functionalities as a rheology modifier and anti-settling additive. As an efficient stabilizer AEROSIL^® products prevent the agglomeration of active ingredients helping to ensure that they are evenly distributed and show a long-term stability.

Overview of AEROSIL^® Fumed Silica Types for Liquid Crop Protection Formulations

AEROSIL^® type

AEROSIL^® OX 50, AEROSIL^® 200, AEROSIL^® 300, AEROSIL^® 380

Hydrophilic fumed silica, can be used as anti-settling agent / rheology modifier in SC’s and OD’s, o/w emulsion

AEROSIL^® COK 84

Mixture of fumed silica and fumed aluminium oxide, especially used in water based SC’s, o/w emulsion

AEROSIL^® R 202, AEROSIL^® R 812 S, AEROSIL^® R 972, AEROSIL^® R 974

Hydrophobic fumed silica. Especially recommended in OD’s for viscosity control