Preformed concentrate for delivery of water insoluble film forming polymers

1. A preformed concentrate, capable of forming emulsion/microemulsion upon dilution with water, for providing peripheral desiccating effect on leaves/crops consisting of: (i) a water insoluble film forming polymer; (ii) a long chain substituted amide; and (iii) an oil soluble surfactant, wherein the long chain substituted amide is dialkyl acid amide having the formula:

wherein, R 1 and R 2 are lower alkyl with 1-4 carbon atoms, alicyclic or aromatic; n 1 =0-18, n 2 =0-18, and R=H, and wherein the concentrate is free of alkyl pyrrolidone.

2. The preformed concentrate according to claim 1 , wherein R 1 =R 2 =CH 3 ; R=H, and n 2 =0; n 1 =5-11.

3. The preformed concentrate according to claim 2 , wherein R 1 =R 2 =CH 3 ; R=H, and n 2 =0; n 1 =7-9.

4. The preformed concentrate according to claim 1 , wherein the dialkyl acid amide is selected from the group consisting of N,N-dimethyl hexamide, N,N-dimethyl octanamide, N,N-dimethyl decanamide, N,N-dimethyl dodecanamide, and N,N-dimethyl tetradecanamide.

5. The preformed concentrate according to claim 1 , wherein the film-forming polymer is selected from the group consisting of water-insoluble graft polymer of N-vinylpyrrolidone and an α olefin selected from the group consisting of C 16 α-olefins in a 50:50 weight ratio and C 20 α-olefins in a 20:80 weight ratio; polyacrylate; polystyrene acrylate copolymer; polystyrene butadiene copolymer; natural wax, polyisoprene copolymer and combinations thereof.

6. The preformed concentrate according to claim 1 , wherein the oil soluble surfactant includes anionic, non-ionic, mildly cationic or combination thereof.

7. The preformed concentrate according to claim 6 , wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of tristyryl phenyl alkoxylates, alkoxylated alkyl phenols, alkoxylated linear aliphatic polyesters, linear aromatic polyesters, polyalkenyloxyalcohols, linear aliphatic alkoxylates, polyalkoxylated castor oil, polyalkoxylated carboxylates, polyalkoxylated alkylamines, phosphate esters and their salts, alkyl sulfates, sulfonates, and their salts, salts of sulfate/sulfonate derived from nonylphenoxypoly(ethyleneoxy)ethanol, sodium, calcium and alkylammonium salts of alkyl benzene sulfonates, calcium dodecylbenzene sulfonates, calcium and lithium salts of anionic alkoxylated acids, carboxylic acids, phosphoric acids and stearic acids, salts of alkylnaphthalene sulfonate, sulfonated aliphatic polyesters and their salts, complex phosphate esters of nonionic surfactants of the ethylene oxide type which are mixtures of diesters of phosphoric acid and combinations thereof.

8. The preformed concentrate according to claim 1 , wherein the amount of amide is from about 5-50% weight percent, the amount of water insoluble film forming polymer is from about 1 to 60 weight percent, and the amount of surfactant is from about 1 to 25 weight percent based on the total weight of the preformed concentrate.

9. A method for providing peripheral desiccating effect or water repellency to delay onset of growth of fungi on leaves/crops comprising mixing a preformed concentrate with an agricultural active, diluting it with at least 10 fold water to form an emulsion/micro-emulsion followed by spraying the emulsion/micro-emulsion onto the leaves/crops, the preformed concentrate consisting of: (i) a water insoluble film forming polymer; (ii) a long chain substituted amide; and (iii) an oil soluble surfactant, wherein the long chain substituted amide is dialkyl acid amide having the formula:

wherein, R 1 and R 2 are lower alkyl with 1-4 carbon atoms, alicyclic or aromatic; n 1 =0-18, n 2 =0-18, and R=H, and wherein the preformed concentrate is free of alkyl pyrrolidone.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the agricultural active is selected from bioactive, agricultural fertilizers, nutrients, plant growth accelerants, herbicides, plant growth regulators, insecticides, bactericides, fungicides, nematocides, fumigants, light stabilizers, UV absorbers, synthetic hydrocarbons, radical scavengers, resins, natural waxes, fragrances, disinfectants and/or combinations.

11. A method to replace partially or totally the addition of oil used in a spray solution used for the crop protection with a preformed concentrate consisting of: (i) a water insoluble film forming polymer; (ii) a long chain substituted amide; and (iii) an oil soluble surfactant, wherein the long chain substituted amide is dialkyl acid amide having the formula:

wherein, R 1 and R 2 are lower alkyl with 1-4 carbon atoms, alicyclic or aromatic; n 1 =0-18, n 2 =0-18, and R=H, and wherein the preformed concentrate is free of alkyl pyrrolidone.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the oil used in the spray solution includes petroleum distillate, paraffin oil, mineral oil, vegetable oils and other naturally derivatized oils.

13. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the dialkyl acid amide is selected from the group consisting of N,N-dimethyl hexamide, N,N-dimethyl octanamide, N,N-dimethyl decanamide, N,N-dimethyl dodecanamide, N—N dimethyl decamide, and N,N-dimethyl tetradecanamide.

14. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the film-forming polymer is selected from the group consisting of water-insoluble graft polymer of N-vinylpyrrolidone and an α olefin selected from the group consisting of C 16 α-olefins in a 50:50 weight ratio and C 20 α-olefins in a 20:80 weight ratio; polyacrylate; polystyrene acrylate copolymer; polystyrene butadiene copolymer; natural wax, polyisoprene copolymer and thereof.