Methods And Compositions For Reducing Or Inhibiting Spray Drift And Driftable Fines

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for reducing or inhibiting spray drift and driftable fines.

1 . A method for reducing or inhibiting spray drift and/or drillable fines of a composition when sprayed onto a surface or increasing the amount of particles of the composition deposited onto the surface which comprises
 adding a formulation comprising at least one resin to the composition before spraying the composition, wherein the at least one resin is selected from the group consisting of phenolic resins, polyalkoxylated polyols, vinyl polymers, vinyl copolymers, glycidyl ethers, polyurethanes, polyurethane alkoxylates, hyperbranched polymers (such as polyethyleneimines), polyamides, polyamidoamines, rosin esters, hydrogenated rosins, hydrogenated rosins methyl esters, ester gums, alpha methyl styrene resins, terpene phenolic resins, and mixtures thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the amount of the at least one resin in the composition to be sprayed is about 0.01%-2.0% by weight of the total composition. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the resin is a phenolic resin, a rosin ester, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition to be sprayed comprises at least one agrochemical. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition to be sprayed further comprises at least one of the following emulsifiers, surfactants, fatty acids, pH modifiers, water conditioning agents, wetting agents, dispersants, solvents, preservatives, humectants, coupling agents, defoamers, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . A composition having reduced driftable fines which comprises at least one agrochemical and a formulation comprising at least one resin, wherein the resin is selected from the group consisting of phenolic resins, polyalkoxylated polyols, vinyl polymers, vinyl copolymers, glycidyl ethers, polyurethanes, polyurethane alkoxylates, hyperbranched polymers (such as polyethyleneimines), polyamides, polyamidoamines, rosin esters, hydrogenated rosins, hydrogenated rosin methyl esters, ester gums, alpha methyl styrene resins, terpene phenolic resins, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the resin is a phenolic resin, a rosin ester, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the agrochemical is a pesticide, a fungicide, a herbicide, an insecticide, or a fertilizer. 
     
     
         11 . The composition according to  claim 10 , wherein the agrochemical is present in an amount of about 0.001% to about 99% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         12 . The composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the composition comprises about 1% to about 50% of the at least one resin. 
     
     
         13 . A method for treating an agricultural target which comprises
 spraying the composition according to  claim 7  onto the surface of the agricultural target using a spray nozzle.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the composition comprises about 0.001% to about 2% of the at least one resin. 
     
     
         15 . A concentrate for reducing driftable fines of at least one agrochemical or adjuvant which comprises a concentrated amount of at least one resin and a concentrated amount of the at least one agochemical or adjuvant, wherein the concentrated amount of the at least one resin is an amount that results in about 0.001% to about 2% when the concentrate is diluted to give a concentration of the at least one agrochemical or adjuvant suitable for spraying on an agricultural target, and wherein the at least one resin is selected from the group consisting of phenolic resins, polyalkoxylated polyols, vinyl polymers, vinyl copolymers, glycidyl ethers, polyurethanes, polyurethane alkoxylates, hyperbranched polymers (such as polyethyleneimines), polyamides, polyamidoamines, rosin esters, hydrogenated rosins, hydrogenated rosins methyl esters, ester gums, alpha methyl styrene resins, terpene phenolic resins, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the amount of the at least one resin in the composition is about 0.01% to about 0.10% by weight of the total composition. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the amount of the at least one resin in the composition is about 0.01% to about 0.10% by weight of the total composition. 
     
     
         18 . The concentrate of  claim 15 , wherein the concentrated amount of the at least one resin is an amount that results in about 0.01% to about 0.10% by weight of the concentrate.