Eastman-kodak Company

Clarence C Dannelly

Stephen H Wu

Richard E Ardell

Mohammad A Sandhu

John M McIntire

Gary E Paar

Charles R Leonard

Bernard W Oliver, Jr

Process of obtaining a high molecular weight fraction from a polar polymer which comprises the steps of first, forming a solution of the polar polymer in a solvent which is also a solvent for a selected coacervating substance, then mixing with the solution a coacervating substance having at least two proton donating or proton receiving groups which are opposite the polarity of the polar polymer in an amount sufficient to crosslink molecules of said polar polymer of a molecular weight above a selected range at the solution temperature, thereby forming coacervated high molecular weight polymer solids, and then separating the high molecular weight solids from the solution. The coacervated polymer may then be dissolved and the coacervating substance removed by precipitation.

Fractionation of polymers

Disclosed are coating compositions comprising (a) the reaction product of a compound of titanium and a nitrogen-containing polymer, (b) an inert particulate filler material and (c) a water-permeable polymeric binder. These compositions are especially useful as coatings for leguminous seeds.

Seed coatings

Coated pellets are produced by forming pellets having about 20% or more void space, contacting the pellets with a suspension of polymeric particles, reducing the temperature of the particles to create a pressure differential between the voids and the atmosphere to draw in liquid from the suspension and filter polymeric particles on the surface to form a coating.

Pellet coating process

Compositions are disclosed comprising a water insoluble microgel which when used as a coating for seeds provides protection for the seeds and may be used as a carrier for materials such as fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, etc. The microgel does not dissolve when contacted with water, but the outer layer of the microgel swells and falls away, thereby dissrupting the coating, and continues until the coating is removed. An advantage of such a coating is that there is no dissolved material available to fill the pores of the seeds to thereby retard germination. The coating quickly disintegrates upon contact with water for releasing any carried substances and exposing the seeds to their natural environment.

Disclosed are plant seed coating compositions comprising water insoluble but water sensitive polyelectrolyte complexes. The polyelectrolyte complexes, which are formed by combining an acidic polymer with a basic polymer, provide protection for the seeds and may be used as a carrier for materials such as fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, etc. An important feature is the fact that the polyelectrolyte complex does not dissolve when contacted with water. Instead, it swells and falls away, thereby disrupting the coating, and the swelling and falling away continue until the coating is removed. An advantage of such a coating is that there is no dissolved material available to fill the pores of the seeds to thereby retard germination. The coating quickly disintegrates upon contact with water for releasing any carried substances and exposes the seeds to their natural environment.

Method is disclosed for forming encapsulated material. Centrifugal force developed by a rotating nozzle having a plurality of radial orifices is used for extruding material to be encapsulated. The nozzle is mounted for rotation about a generally vertical axis and is provided with a circumferential outside surface near its bottom inclined upwardly away from the axis of the nozzle which, when partially submerged in a liquid during rotation, impels a sheet or spray of the liquid along the circumferential surface and shears off successive leading tips of extruded material to form capsules.

Encapsulating method

Pellets adapted to be orally administered to ruminants are disclosed. The pellets have a core comprising a nutrient and/or medicament, of which the pH is raised to a predetermined level by the addition of a basic substance. A coating which protects the core in the environment of the rumen is also provided to allow utilization of the core in the abomasum and/or intestine. The coating comprises a polymeric matrix which is resistant to the mildly acidic environment of the rumen and may include a hydrophobic substance dispersed throughout the continuous matrix. The continuity of the polymerix matrix is destroyed in the more acidic environment of the abomasum.

Rumen-stable pellets

Pellets adapted to be orally administered to ruminants are disclosed. The pellets have a core comprising a nutrient and/or medicament, and a coating which protects the core in the environment of the rumen is also provided to allow utilization of the core in the abomasum and/or intestine. The coating comprises a polymeric matrix which is resistant to the mildly acidic environment of the rumen, and a hydrophobic substance and a flake material dispersed throughout the continuous matrix. The core may contain a neutralizer if desired. The continuity of the polymeric matrix is destroyed in the more acidic environment of the abomasum.

Pellets adapted to be orally administered to ruminants are disclosed. The pellets have a core comprising a nutrient and/or medicament, and a coating which protects the core in the environment of the rumen is also provided to allow utilization of the core in the abomasum and/or intestine. The coating comprises a polymeric matrix which is resistant to the mildly acidic environment of the rumen, a hydrophobic substance, a flake material, and reactive acid dispersed throughout the continuous matrix. The core may contain a neutralizer if desired. The continuity of the polymeric matrix is destroyed in the more acidic environment of the abomasum.

Pellets adapted to be orally administered to ruminants are disclosed. The pellets have a core of a material beneficial to the ruminant such as a nutrient and/or medicament, and a coating which protects the core in the environment of the rumen, and allows utilization of the core in the abomasum and/or intestines. The coating comprises a polymeric matrix which is resistant to the mildly acidic environment of the rumen at pH of about 5.5 and a hydrophobic substance dispersed throughout the continuous matrix. The continuity of the polymeric matrix is destroyed in the more acidic environment of the abomasum.

Pellets adapted to be orally administered to ruminants are disclosed. The pellets have a core comprising a nutrient and/or medicament, and a coating which protects the core in the environment of the rumen to allow utilization of the core in the abomasum and/or intestine. The coating comprises a polymeric matrix which is resistant to acid and a substance dispersed throughout the continuous matrix which is leachable from the matrix in the environment of the abomasum but not the rumen.

Apparatus and method are disclosed for forming encapsulated material. Centrifugal force developed by a rotating nozzle having a plurality of radial orifices is used for extruding material to be encapsulated. The nozzle is mounted for rotation about a generally vertical axis and is provided with a circumferential outside surface near its bottom inclined upwardly away from the axis of the nozzle which, when partially submerged in a liquid during rotation, impels a sheet or spray of the liquid along the circumferential surface and shears off successive leading tips of extruded material to form capsules.

Encapsulating apparatus

Apparatus for spray coating discrete particles while the particles are suspended in a gas flow, the apparatus including a vertically disposed coating chamber; a gas receiving, compressing and accelerating enclosure open at the top and bottom, such as a truncated hollow cone, within the chamber and including therewithin coating and drying zones and forming on the outside thereof therebetween it and the inside wall surface of the coating chamber an annular storage zone for a load of the discrete particles; one or more gas shaping or aerodynamic structures centrally disposed in spaced relation below the truncated hollow cone defining therebetween with the apparatus inside wall surface an annular nozzle for a Coanda flow of upwardly moving gases substantially into the truncated hollow cone; a particle supporting screen between the truncated hollow cone and the aerodynamic structure(s); at least one spray nozzle extending above the central aerodynamic structure and projecting through the particle supporting screen for providing an atomized spray of coating material within the truncated hollow cone; and a source of upwardly moving gases from below the aerodynamic structure(s).

Apparatus for spray coating discrete particles

Processes are disclosed for preparing large crystalline silver particles having exceptionally conductive surfaces. The particles may be prepared by the reduction of a water soluble silver salt in an acidified aqueous solution by a redox reaction. Silver particles having conductive surfaces may also be prepared by treating commercial silver powder with a phenolic reducing compound such as hydroquinone dissolved in a polar solvent such as a lower alcohol. The silver powders obtained by the processes have very low electrical contact resistance and furthermore retain this low contact resistance even though the powders are exposed to air and airborne contaminants.

Growing community of inventors

Kingsport, TN, United States of America

Clarence C Dannelly