Pesticides are chemical substances used in the cultivation of crops, fruits, and vegetables to eliminate pests, bacteria, weeds, and improve yield and quality. Most pesticides, including herbicides, are oil-soluble and do not mix well with water. To make them usable, surfactants are added to create oil-in-water emulsions. Before application, these emulsions are diluted with water to a very low concentration and then sprayed or applied directly onto the leaves, stems, and weeds to kill or suppress the growth of harmful organisms.
The surface tension of conventional aqueous surfactant solutions is typically above 30 mN/m, while that of silicone surfactant solutions is generally around 20 mN/m. Surface tension plays a crucial role in determining how well an aqueous solution wets and spreads over solid surfaces, especially hydrophobic ones. The lower the surface tension, the faster the solution wets the surface and the larger the area it covers.
Plant leaves, stems, and branches have a thin, hydrophobic wax layer on their surface. When a pesticide emulsion made with regular surfactants is applied, it often wets slowly and covers a small area. Due to the capillary effect, many tiny pores remain untreated, allowing some pests to survive. Similarly, weeds may not be fully affected because the herbicide fails to penetrate into their pores.
Adding a small amount of silicone surfactant to the herbicide formulation can reduce the required amount of herbicide by more than one-third. According to the China Pesticide Network, the low surface tension of silicone surfactants helps the pesticide solution spread quickly and penetrate every part of the plant’s surface. This ensures maximum effectiveness and significantly extends the duration of action. By improving wetting and penetration, silicone surfactants enhance the overall performance of pesticides, making them more efficient and environmentally friendly.
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