REFLECTIVE GROUND COVER MATERIAL
A reflective ground cover sheet material for agricultural use woven from warp and weft tapes of a plastics film material has an average gap g between edges of adjacent tapes in both the warp and the weft direction in the range about 0.1 mm to about 1.2 mm. The tapes may be of width w in the range 2 to 7 mm. The materials may optimise air, water, solar transmission, long wave radiation or heat and dirt/soil movement through the material, and sufficient coverage and reflectivity, and physical material construction strength.
1 . A reflective ground cover sheet material woven from warp and weft tapes of a plastics material wherein the average gap between edges of adjacent tapes in both the warp and the weft direction is in the range about 0.1 mm to about 1.2 mm and wherein the material is reflective of at least 50% of visible light (wavelength about 400-700 nm) on at least one side of the material.
2 . (canceled)
3 . (canceled)
4 . (canceled)
5 . A reflective ground cover sheet material according to claim 1 wherein the average gap between edges of adjacent tapes in both the warp and the weft direction is in the range about 0.25 mm to about 0.85 mm.
6 . A reflective ground cover sheet material according to claim 1 wherein the average gap between edges of adjacent tapes in both the warp and the weft direction is in the range about 0.25 mm to about 0.7 mm.
7 . (canceled)
8 . A reflective ground cover sheet material according to claim 1 wherein the average gap between edges of adjacent tapes in both the warp and the weft direction is in the range about 0.3 mm to about 0.5 mm.
9 . A reflective ground cover sheet material according to claim 1 wherein the area defined between edges of adjacent tapes is in the range about 0.02 to 1.3 mm 2 .
10 . A reflective ground cover sheet material according to claim 1 wherein the area defined between edges of adjacent tapes is in the range about 0.05 to 1.0 mm 2 .
11 . A reflective ground cover sheet material according to claim 1 wherein the area defined between edges of adjacent tapes is in the range about 0.06 to 0.8 mm 2 .
12 . (canceled)
13 . (canceled)
14 . (canceled)
15 . A reflective ground cover sheet material according to claim 1 wherein the material has a porosity in the range about 0.5 to about 2%.
16 . (canceled)
17 . A reflective ground cover sheet material according to claim 1 wherein the material has a porosity in the range about 0.5 to about 1.7%.
18 . A reflective ground cover sheet material according to claim 1 wherein the material has a porosity in the range about 0.5 to about 1.5%.
19 . A reflective ground cover sheet material according to claim 1 wherein the material has a porosity in the range from greater than about 0.5% to about 1.3%
20 . A reflective ground cover sheet material according to claim 1 wherein the material has a porosity in the range from greater than about 0.5% to about 0.8%.
21 . A reflective ground cover sheet material according to claim 1 wherein the material has a porosity in the range from greater than about 1% to about 1.99%.
22 . A reflective ground cover sheet material according to claim 1 wherein the material has a warp and weft tape width in the range about 2 to about 7 mm.
23 . A reflective ground cover sheet material according to claim 1 wherein the material has a warp and weft tape width in the range from greater than about 3.5 to about 4.5 mm.
24 . A reflective ground cover sheet material according to claim 1 wherein the material has a warp and weft tape width in the range from greater than about 3.8 to 4.2 mm.
25 . A reflective ground cover sheet material according to claim 1 wherein the material has a warp and weft tape width of about 4 mm.
26 . A reflective ground cover sheet material according to claim 1 wherein the material has an insertion/density/number per inch of warp and weft tapes in the range about 3 to about 12 per inch.
27 . A reflective ground cover sheet material according to claim 1 wherein the material has an insertion/density/number per inch of warp and weft tapes in the range about 4 to about 10 per inch.
28 . A reflective ground cover sheet material according to claim 1 wherein the material has an insertion/density/number per inch of warp and weft tapes in the range about 5 to about 8 per inch.
29 . (canceled)
30 . A reflective ground cover sheet material according to claim 1 wherein the material has a cover factor in the range of about 75 to about 85%.
31 . A reflective ground cover sheet material according to claim 1 wherein the material has a cover factor in the range about 85 to about 95%.
32 . (canceled)
33 . A reflective ground cover sheet material according to claim 1 wherein the material is reflective of at least 55% of visible light on at least one side of the material.
34 . (canceled)
35 . A reflective ground cover sheet material according to claim 1 and wherein the material is also reflective of at least 40% solar radiation on average across the UV (wavelength about 280-400 nm) and very near infrared (wavelength about 700-800 nm) ranges, and transmits at least 5% on average of solar radiation across the wavelength range about 800-2500 nm.
36 . (canceled)
37 . A reflective ground cover sheet material according to claim 1 wherein the material transmits at least 10% of solar radiation on average in the wavelength range about 800-2500 nm.
38 . (canceled)
39 . (canceled)
40 . A ground cover sheet material according to claim 1 wherein some or all of the tapes are formed from a resin comprising a white pigment.
41 . (canceled)