Plant husbandry – Water culture – apparatus or method – Porous support
Patent
1998-06-11
2000-03-07
Carone, Michael J.
Plant husbandry
Water culture, apparatus or method
Porous support
47 581, A01G 3100
Patent
active
060324139
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hydrophilic plant growth substrate, more in particular to a substrate based on a coherent matrix of mineral wool which is hydrophilic due to he use of a specific cured resin.
2. Background of the Invention
Plant growth substrates may have the form of plugs accommodated in a tray hole, of cubes having a foil around the standing side surfaces, or of plastic wrapped slabs.
The currently used plant growth substrates which are based on a coherent matrix of mineral wool use as a cured binder generally a phenol-formaldehyde resin. Due to the use of this type of binder, the matrix of mineral wool has to be provided with a so-called wetting agent in order to impart the substrate with hydrophilic properties. That is, the matrix can adsorb in a relatively short time period up to saturation amounts of water.
Although these types of known plant growth substrates are widely used, there is constant research to improve plant growth substrates, in particular the phytotoxicity of the chemicals used. This phytotoxicity may result for instance from the used wetting agent, or due to the binder.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly the present invention relates to plant growth substrates comprising a coherent, hydrophilic matrix of mineral wool fibers mutually connected via binder based on furan resin, and to the use of products produced by using a furan resin, for the culture of plants.
The plant growth substrates according to the invention comprise a coherent matrix of mineral wool. As mineral wool may be used stone wool, glass wool and/or slag wool. These matrices are produced using conventional production methods which only depend on the starting wool.
For the plant substrates according to the invention use may be made of a coherent matrix of mineral wool. Coherency is obtained by curing the applied furan resin such that the mutual fibers are mechanically connected, which connections are substantially water resistant. However, it is noted that the plant growth substrate may consist of a so-called granulate having the form of mineral wool flakes comprising a number of fibers and having a size of 0.2-5 cm.
When the plant growth substrate according to the present invention is cured and formed into a coherent hydrophilic matrix, the (higher density) substrate may have a compression strength up to 50 kPa, such as a compression strength in the range of 10-45 Kpa.
Hydrophilic character means in the context of the present invention that water is absorbed to a substantial extent/amount which may be measured in the so-called sinking test in water to which no surfactant is added and in which no mechanical force is applied to the substrate. It is noted that without the use of a wetting agent the plant growth substrate of the invention has good plant growth (hydrophilic) properties.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The furan resins that are used in the present invention are based on the polymerization of at least a furan molecule having the general formula ##STR1## In this general formula A and B are polymerizable groups. Due to polymerization are formed dimer, oligomer and polymer molecules in which the furan ring structure is joined at least to one other furan structure by the group A and/or B. Furthermore, the furan ring may be less unsaturated, that is, it may comprise only one or no carbon-carbon double bond at the 2, 3 or 4-position in the ring structure.
The polymerizable groups A and B may be selected from hydrogen, C1-C10 alkyl groups, polysubstituted vinyl radicals, polysubstituted aromatic groups, ketones, anhydrides, polysubstituted furfuryl, hydroxyls, aldehydes, carboxylic acids, esters, amines, imines, alkynes, alkyl halides, aromatic halides, olefinic halides, ethers, thiols, sulfides, nitriles, nitro groups, sulfones, sulfonic acids, and mixtures thereof.
Accordingly, the repeating groups in the product obtained by poymerization comprise furan, furfural, furfuryl alcohol, 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furancarboxyaldehyde
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De Groot Jacob Frank
Husemoen Thor Brede
Carone Michael J.
Gellner Jeffrey L.
Rockwool International A/S
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