Polyelectrolyte-layer forming block copolymers and compositions and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to polyelectrolyte-layer forming block copolymers adsorbed at colloid interfaces in aqua solution and compositions and uses thereof. In particular, the present invention relates to agricultural material compositions comprising particles of at least one agricultural material and a polyelectrolyte-layer forming block copolymer. The present invention also relates to non-agricultural material compositions comprising particles of at least one non-agricultural material and a polyelectrolyte-layer forming block co-polymer.

1 . An agricultural material, a pesticidal, an aqueous non-agricultural-application-based, a colorant system, or an oil cement grout composition comprising: (i) particles of at least one compound; and (ii) a dispersant system comprising a polyelectrolyte-layer forming block copolymer, wherein the block copolymer comprises (A) an anchoring moiety and (B) at least one stabilizing moiety, wherein the block co-polymer is adsorbed on hydrophobic surfaces of the particles. 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is an agricultural material composition and the compound is an agricultural material compound selected from a group consisting of a pesticide, a plant growth regulator, a hormone, and a bio-stimulant. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the pesticide is an insecticide, a nematocide, an herbicide, a fungicide, an algicide, an animal repellent, or an acaricide. 
     
     
         7 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein: a) the composition is high-load and the concentration of agricultural material particles in the composition is 900-1200 g/L, b) the density of the composition is 1.4-1.6 kg/L, c) the viscosity of the composition is less than 750 cPs when determined at spindle 62 and 12 RPM of Brookfield viscometer, and/or d) the composition is stable in a high salt environment. 
     
     
         13 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is an aqueous non-agricultural-application-based composition comprising at least: (i) one non-agricultural material compound; (ii) water; and (iii) a dispersant system comprising a polyelectrolyte-layer forming block copolymer, wherein the block copolymer comprises (A) an anchoring moiety and (B) at least one stabilizing moiety. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein the composition is an oil cement grout composition or a colorant system composition. 
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein: (a) the polyelectrolyte-layer forming block copolymer is a linear block copolymer, or (b) the polyelectrolyte-layer forming block copolymer is a comb block copolymer. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein: (a) the polyelectrolyte-layer forming block copolymer is a linear block copolymer, or (b) the polyelectrolyte-layer forming block copolymer is a comb block copolymer. 
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein: (a) the anchoring moiety is a hydrophobic block copolymer, and/or (b) the at least one stabilizing moiety is a hydrophilic block copolymer. 
     
     
         27 . The composition  claim 26 , wherein: (a) at least 90% by weight of monomers in the anchoring moiety is hydrophobic monomers selected from the group consisting of acrylate derivatives, methacrylate derivatives, styrene derivatives, and any combination thereof, (b) at least 60% by weight of monomers in the stabilizing moiety are charged monomers selected from anionic monomers having a sulfonate group, and/or (c) less than 40% by weight of the monomers in the stabilizing moiety are neutral hydrophilic monomers selected from a group consisting of N-vinylpyrrolidone, ethylene oxide, glycoside acrylate, and acrylamide. 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein: (a) the anchoring moiety is a hydrophobic block copolymer, and/or (b) the at least one stabilizing moiety is a hydrophilic block copolymer. 
     
     
         31 . The composition of  claim 30 , wherein: (a) at least 90% by weight of monomers in the anchoring moiety is hydrophobic monomers selected from the group consisting of acrylate derivatives, methacrylate derivatives, styrene derivatives, and any combination thereof, (b) at least 60% by weight of monomers in the stabilizing moiety are charged monomers selected from anionic monomers having a sulfonate group, and/or (c) less than 40% by weight of the monomers in the stabilizing moiety are neutral hydrophilic monomers selected from a group consisting of N-vinylpyrrolidone, ethylene oxide, glycoside acrylate, and acrylamide. 
     
     
         32 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein: a) the block copolymer comprises up to 150 monomers, b) the weight of the block copolymer is up to 31000 g/mol, c) the weight of the stabilizing moiety is 5,000 to 100,000 g/mol, d) the weight of the anchoring moiety is 500 to 5,000 g/mol, e) the weight percentage of the stabilizing moiety is 65-90% of the total weight of the block copolymer. f) the molar ratio of the anchoring moiety to the stabilizing moiety is 1:2-4, and/or g) the concentration of the block copolymer in the composition is 0.2-3% w/w. 
     
     
         38 . A method of (i) controlling and preventing pest or (ii) improving plant growth comprising applying an agricultural material composition to (a) a locus where the pest is to be controlled and prevented or (b) at least one of a plant, an area adjacent to a plant, soil adapted to support growth of a plant, a root of a plant, foliage of a plant, and/or a seed adapted to produce a plant, wherein the composition comprises: (i) particles of at least one agricultural material compound; and (ii) a dispersant system comprising a polyelectrolyte-layer forming block copolymer, wherein the block copolymer comprises (A) an anchoring moiety and (B) at least one stabilizing moiety, wherein the block co-polymer is adsorbed on surfaces of the agricultural material compound particles. 
     
     
         39 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . A process of preparing a composition comprising mixing particles of at least one compound with an amount of a polyelectrolyte-layer forming block co-polymer, wherein the block copolymer comprises (A) an anchoring moiety and (B) at least one stabilizing moiety. 
     
     
         45 . The process of  claim 44 , wherein the at least one compound is an agricultural material compound. 
     
     
         46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . The process of  claim 44 , wherein the at least one compound is a non-agricultural material compound. 
     
     
         49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . The process of  claim 44 , wherein mixing comprises preparing a dispersion of particles of the at least one compound and adsorbing the polyelectrolyte-layer forming block copolymer on hydrophobic surfaces of the particles to form a polyelectrolyte layer on the particle interface. 
     
     
         51 . (canceled) 
     
     
         52 . The process of  claim 44 , wherein: (a) the process further comprises a step of wet milling the particles after the polyelectrolyte layer is formed wherein (i) the amount of the block copolymer is effective to reduce temperature during wet milling of the composition compared to the temperature during wet milling of the same composition without the block co-polymer, and/or (ii) the amount of the block copolymer is effective to reduce viscosity of the composition during wet milling of the composition compared to the viscosity of the same composition without the block copolymer during wet milling, or (b) the process further comprises a step of granulating the composition after the polyelectrolyte layer is formed and wherein the amount of the block copolymer is effective to reduce pressure during granulation of the composition compared the pressure during granulation of the same composition without the block copolymer. 
     
     
         53 - 61 . (canceled) 
     
     
         62 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein: a) the block copolymer comprises up to 150 monomers, b) the weight of the block copolymer is up to 31000 g/mol, c) the weight of the stabilizing moiety is 5,000 to 100,000 g/mol, d) the weight of the anchoring moiety is 500 to 5,000 g/mol, e) the weight percentage of the stabilizing moiety is 65-90% of the total weight of the block copolymer. f) the molar ratio of the anchoring moiety to the stabilizing moiety is 1:2-4, and/or g) the concentration of the block copolymer in the composition is 0.2-3% w/w.