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US 2020/0128764 A1Published application
Growth substrate product
AssigneeRockwool International A/S
InventorFrank Janssen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a coherent growth substrate product formed of man-made vitreous fibres bonded with a cured binder composition and a wetting agent, wherein the wetting agent is an alkyl ether sulphate. The invention further relates to methods of using or producing such a coherent growth substrate.
Claims47
1-23. (canceled)
24:
- A method of growing plants in a coherent growth substrate product, the method comprising:
- providing at least one growth substrate product formed of man-made vitreous fibres bonded with a cured binder composition and a wetting agent;
- positioning one or more plants for growth in the growth substrate product;
- and
- irrigating the growth substrate product;
- characterised in that the wetting agent is an alkyl ether sulphate.
3 more elements
25:
- The method of claim 24, wherein the wetting agent is an alkali metal alkyl ether sulphate or an ammonium alkyl ether sulphate.
26:
- The method of claim 24, wherein the wetting agent is a sodium alkyl ether sulphate.
27:
- The method of claim 24, wherein the alkyl has a carbon chain length of 8 to 18 carbons, preferably 12 to 15 carbons, preferably 12 to 14 carbons.
28:
- The method of claim 24, wherein the wetting agent has an average degree of ethoxylation in the range 1 to 50, preferably in the range 2 to 4.
29:
- The method of claim 24, wherein the wetting agent has the formula:
- RO(CH2CH2O)nSO3Na
- wherein R is a C8-18 linear or branched, cyclic or non-cyclic alkyl group, preferably wherein R is a C12-15 linear or branched, cyclic or non-cyclic alkyl group, more preferably wherein R is a C12-14 linear or branched, cyclic or non-cyclic alkyl group;
- and
- wherein n is in the range 1 to 50, preferably wherein n is in the range 2 to 4.
2 more elements
30:
- The method of claim 24, wherein the wetting agent is sodium lauryl ether sulphate, preferably wherein the wetting agent has an average degree of ethoxylation in the range 2 to 3.
31:
- The method of claim 24, wherein the amount of wetting agent is in the range 0.05 to 3 wt % based on the weight of the growth substrate product, preferably in the range 0.05 to 0.8 wt % based on the weight of the growth substrate product.
32:
- The method of claim 24, wherein the growth substrate product comprises no wetting agent other than the alkyl ether sulphate.
33:
- The method of claim 24, wherein the growth substrate product has an average density of from 30 to 150 kg/m3, preferably 30 to 100 kg/m3, more preferably 40 to 90 kg/m3.
34:
- The method of claim 24, wherein the growth substrate product comprises at least 90 wt % man-made vitreous fibres.
35:
- The method of claim 24, wherein the binder composition prior to curing comprises:
- a) a sugar component;
- and
- b) a reaction product of a polycarboxylic acid component and an alkanolamine component;
- wherein the binder prior to curing contains at least 42% by weight of the sugar component based on the total weight (dry matter) of the binder components.
2 more elements
36:
- The method of claim 35, wherein the binder prior to curing contains 46 to 64% by weight of the sugar component based on the total weight (dry matter) of the binder components.
37:
- The method of claim 24, wherein the binder composition prior to curing is a phenol urea formaldehyde binder.
38:
- The method of claim 24, wherein the amount of binder added before curing is 1-10 wt %, preferably 2-6 wt %.
39:
- A method of propagating seeds in a coherent growth substrate product, the method comprising:
- providing at least one growth substrate product formed of man-made vitreous fibres bonded with a cured binder composition and a wetting agent;
- positioning one or more seeds in the growth substrate product;
- irrigating the growth substrate product;
- and
- allowing germination and growth of the seed to form a seedling;
- characterised in that the wetting agent is an alkyl ether sulphate.
4 more elements
40:
- The method of claim 39, wherein the wetting agent is an alkali metal alkyl ether sulphate or an ammonium alkyl ether sulphate.
41:
- The method of claim 39, wherein the wetting agent is a sodium alkyl ether sulphate.
42:
- The method of claim 39, wherein the alkyl has a carbon chain length of 8 to 18 carbons, preferably 12 to 15 carbons, preferably 12 to 14 carbons.
43:
- The method of claim 39, wherein the wetting agent has an average degree of ethoxylation in the range 1 to 50, preferably in the range 2 to 4.
44:
- The method of claim 39, wherein the wetting agent has the formula:
- RO(CH2CH2O)nSO3Na
- wherein R is a C8-18 linear or branched, cyclic or non-cyclic alkyl group, preferably wherein R is a C12-15 linear or branched, cyclic or non-cyclic alkyl group, more preferably wherein R is a C12-14 linear or branched, cyclic or non-cyclic alkyl group;
- and
- wherein n is in the range 1 to 50, preferably wherein n is in the range 2 to 4.
2 more elements
45:
- The method of claim 39, wherein the wetting agent is sodium lauryl ether sulphate, preferably wherein the wetting agent has an average degree of ethoxylation in the range 2 to 3.
46:
- The method of claim 39, wherein the amount of wetting agent is in the range 0.05 to 3 wt % based on the weight of the growth substrate product, preferably in the range 0.05 to 0.8 wt % based on the weight of the growth substrate product.
47:
- The method of claim 39, wherein the growth substrate product comprises no wetting agent other than the alkyl ether sulphate.
48:
- The method of claim 39, wherein the growth substrate product has an average density of from 30 to 150 kg/m3, preferably 30 to 100 kg/m3, more preferably 40 to 90 kg/m3.
49:
- The method of claim 39, wherein the growth substrate product comprises at least 90 wt % man-made vitreous fibres.
50:
- The method of claim 39, wherein the binder composition prior to curing comprises:
- a) a sugar component;
- and
- b) a reaction product of a polycarboxylic acid component and an alkanolamine component;
- wherein the binder prior to curing contains at least 42% by weight of the sugar component based on the total weight (dry matter) of the binder components.
2 more elements
51:
- The method of claim 50, wherein the binder prior to curing contains 46 to 64% by weight of the sugar component based on the total weight (dry matter) of the binder components.
52:
- The method of claim 39, wherein the binder composition prior to curing is a phenol urea formaldehyde binder.
53:
- The method of claim 39, wherein the amount of binder added before curing is 1-10 wt %, preferably 2-6 wt %.
54:
- A process of making a coherent growth substrate product comprising the steps of:
- i. providing man-made vitreous fibres;
- ii. spraying the man-made vitreous fibres with a binder composition;
- iii. spraying the man-made vitreous fibres with a wetting agent;
- iv. collecting and consolidating the man-made vitreous fibres;
- and
- v. curing the binder composition:
- characterised in that the wetting agent is an alkyl ether sulphate.
5 more elements
55:
- A process according to claim 54, wherein steps ii and iii occur substantially simultaneously.
56:
- The method of claim 54, wherein the wetting agent is an alkali metal alkyl ether sulphate or an ammonium alkyl ether sulphate.
57:
- The method of claim 54, wherein the wetting agent is a sodium alkyl ether sulphate.
58:
- The method of claim 54, wherein the alkyl has a carbon chain length of 8 to 18 carbons, preferably 12 to 15 carbons, preferably 12 to 14 carbons.
59:
- The method of claim 54, wherein the wetting agent has an average degree of ethoxylation in the range 1 to 50, preferably in the range 2 to 4.
60:
- The method of claim 54, wherein the wetting agent has the formula:
- RO(CH2CH2O)nSO3Na
- wherein R is a C8-18 linear or branched, cyclic or non-cyclic alkyl group, preferably wherein R is a C12-15 linear or branched, cyclic or non-cyclic alkyl group, more preferably wherein R is a C12-14 linear or branched, cyclic or non-cyclic alkyl group;
- and
- wherein n is in the range 1 to 50, preferably wherein n is in the range 2 to 4.
2 more elements
61:
- The method of claim 54, wherein the wetting agent is sodium lauryl ether sulphate, preferably wherein the wetting agent has an average degree of ethoxylation in the range 2 to 3.
62:
- The method of claim 54, wherein the amount of wetting agent is in the range 0.05 to 3 wt % based on the weight of the growth substrate product, preferably in the range 0.05 to 0.8 wt % based on the weight of the growth substrate product.
63:
- The method of claim 54, wherein the growth substrate product comprises no wetting agent other than the alkyl ether sulphate.
64:
- The method of claim 54, wherein the growth substrate product has an average density of from 30 to 150 kg/m3, preferably 30 to 100 kg/m3, more preferably 40 to 90 kg/m3.
65:
- The method of claim 54, wherein the growth substrate product comprises at least 90 wt % man-made vitreous fibres.
66:
- The method of claim 54, wherein the binder composition prior to curing comprises:
- a) a sugar component;
- and
- b) a reaction product of a polycarboxylic acid component and an alkanolamine component;
- wherein the binder prior to curing contains at least 42% by weight of the sugar component based on the total weight (dry matter) of the binder components.
2 more elements
67:
- The method of claim 66, wherein the binder prior to curing contains 46 to 64% by weight of the sugar component based on the total weight (dry matter) of the binder components.
68:
- The method of claim 54, wherein the binder composition prior to curing is a phenol urea formaldehyde binder.
69:
- The method of claim 54, wherein the amount of binder added before curing is 1-10 wt %, preferably 2-6 wt %.