We have all become somewhat desensitized to the word ‘synergy’ due to overuse, but sometimes the ‘magic’ can really happen!In the Agro Applications market, crop protection chemicals are preferred as dry or liquid concentrates. These concentrates require surface-active molecules to develop market-acceptable handling, storage, and application properties. One of the more important attributes for a formulation is the uniformity of dispersion in the spray water when it is mixed for an application. Dispersion may be imparted by steric stabilization or static charges associated with the solid particles from the formulation concentrate. AkzoNobel makes outstanding dispersants (Morwet(R) Naphthalene sulfonates) and recently has developed special polymeric dispersants that act more as ‘stabilizers’. Generally, these Agrilan(R) stabilizers are used in a formulation with normal dispersants, where they add a step-change in stability for the concentrate and the spray mixture. There are only a few products sold into agriculture that truly perform as stabilizers, so when we have developed a product that meets or exceeds known standards, we have a success!AkzoNobel Surface Chemistry represents the merged forces of polymer chemistry and Agro formulation expertise. Prior recognition of these capabilities tended to encourage a search for the right combinations of surfactants and polymers for a synergy of performance. Sometimes the best performance for a particular objective is achieved via use of a competitor product or the formulator is blocked by a competitor patent. Such was the inspiration for our recent project.

“The Agro team did a good job of defining what success would look like at the outset of the project. Given these goals, it was relatively easy to design a series of polymers that were potential solutions to the problem at hand. Mark Alexander was very good at evaluating these polymers and giving us valuable feedback in a timely manner. This allowed us to hone in on the right polymer candidate and then optimize the chemistry in a relatively short amount of time. We played to our individual strengths – the applications and market knowledge of Mark and the Agro team and the polymer expertise of the Chattanooga team. “– Klin Rodrigues, Scientist, Polymer PPR.Having an Agro market-focused need for new formulation dispersants and stabilizers, these teams collaborated with excitement on this opportunity for innovation. The Specialty Polymers research team in Chattanooga synthesized new monomer combinations and molecular-weight variations for the Fort Worth Powder Technology Lab to evaluate in functional compositions (water-dispersible granules of generic herbicides).In good empirical scientific practice, hundreds of test formulations were prepared and then evaluated for performance attributes as a function of the experimental polymer samples. Competitor and standard ANSC products were used to benchmark the formulation improvement process. The Technical Managers of the respective areas (Dr. Shuaib Khan of AGRO and Dr. Allen Carrier of Polymer Synthesis) must also be credited for their team’s ability to work ‘out of the box’ without constricting the collaboration.As the research progressed, we began to develop a more fundamental understanding of how particular monomer components could affect the processability and performance of a WDG formulation. Even better was that the depth of polymer knowledge allowed a synthesis move into uncharted compositions, free from prior intellectual property. Here, dramatic performance improvements were discovered and finessed into an optimal polymer composition as a dispersant/stabilizer for such Agro formulations.

We were able to develop a structural-performance relationship for polymeric dispersants and the active ingredients we were testing. That allowed us to develop a new dispersant that works as well as, and in many cases better than, products currently in the market. We were also able to file a composition of matter and application patent on the new polymer.”- Mark Alexander, Senior Research Chemist, AGRO Applications.Today, we are finalizing the synthesis process and product specifications as the product launch is progressing for the Agrilan® 789 Polymeric Stabilizer. A provisional patent has been filed. Early customer evaluations are all positive and we have already learned of unexpected performance attributes that may bring even more opportunity for this new proprietary polymeric stabilizer. The product was launched in Asia earlier this year. The Americas launch is first quarter 2010.Jim HazenGlobal Development ManagerAgro Applications