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Suspension concentrate (SC)

Suspension concentrate (SC) formulations, also known as "flowables" (F), consist of having a solid active ingredient dispersed in the water while emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulations combine an active ingredient dissolved in a solvent with emulsifiers.

SCs have grown in popularity due to benefits such as the absence of dust, ease of use, and effectiveness when compared to other formulation types such as ECs and wettable powder (WP) - powder formulations that form a suspension when mixed with water before spraying.

To formulate a stable SC in agrochemicals such as pesticides, the solid particles of the active ingredient must remain insoluble and suspended under all temperature conditions.

SC formulation diagram

Benefits

  • Water based hence it provides good safety and user convenience
  • Suitable for many active ingredients with low water solubility
  • Absence of dust
  • Absence of flammable liquids
  • Small particle size of the active ingredient
  • Adjuvants can be built-in for bio enhancement

Limitations

  • Not compatible with water soluble active ingredients
  • Crystal growth can be a problem if the active is partially soluble in water
  • Long term stability issues Stability upon dilution

The processing of SC formulations involves several key steps, including preparing xanthan gum, creating the mill base, bead milling, adding preservative, and observing for flocculation that may impact particle size distribution and formulation stability. Additionally, a rheology modifier is included to finalise the formulation. Polysaccharide thickeners build viscosity within the continuous phase through controlled incompatibility with water. Explore our existing SC formulation recipes here.

Formulating to reduce crystal growth in SC formulations

Formulating to reduce crystal growth in SC formulations
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The Formulator's Toolbox (Full Version)

The Formulator's Toolbox
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Products recommended for SC

The use of polymeric dispersants is highly recommended due to their higher molecular weight, large repulsive barrier and many anchoring groups per molecule. This enables highly loaded, stable suspension concentrates to be formulated. We have a range of dispersants each with a specific area of high performance.

Atlox 4917

Atlox™ 4917

A novel, aqueous dispersant delivering robust stability in complex and problematic formulations. Designed to expand our range of aqueous dispersants building on the well-established technology of...
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Atlox 4919

Atlox™ 4919

An aqueous dispersant that builds compatibility between agrochemical suspensions and high electrolyte tank mixes, such as fertilizers.
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Atlox 4915

Atlox™ 4915

A polymeric amphoteric aqueous dispersant optimised for performance in electrolyte conditions and water free composition allows for use in OD formulations. Additional benefits as adjuvant for...
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Atlox 4913

Atlox™ 4913

A versatile nonionic polymeric aqueous dispersant. Ideally partnered with Atlas G-5002L as a wetting agent. Suitable for a large range of organic and inorganic active ingredients in water. Ability to...
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Atlox Metasperse 500L

Atlox Metasperse™ 500L

A modified styrene acrylic polymeric aqueous dispersant in liquid form which exhibits excellent hard water tolerance.
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Atlox Metasperse 650S

Atlox Metasperse™ 650S

A highly effective solid aqueous dispersant that performs consistently across many active ingredients. Primarily designed for use in water dispersible granules (WDG).
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Atlox PN-100

Atlox™ PN-100

A single system polymeric dispersant and wetting agent developed for incorporating high concentrations of micronutrients into aqueous suspensions. It also improves the compatibility with glyphosate in...
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Zephrym PD3315

Zephrym™ PD3315

A polymeric dispersant incorporating an increased level of hydrophilic material in its backbone improving its suitability for use as a dispersant for more polar compounds like micronutrients and...
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Chat with our technical team to learn more.