Wettable powder (WP)
A wettable powder (WP) is a powder formulation that forms a suspension when mixed with water prior to spraying. WP formulations consist of one or more active ingredients which are blended and mixed with inerts, diluents and surfactants. Wetting agents are used to facilitate the suspension of the particles in water. A dispersing agent is added to prevent any flocculation of the suspension before it is applied.
Benefits
- Uniform distribution of active ingredients
- Exceptional residual control
- High loading of active ingredient is possible
- No storage sedimentation issues (due to being a powder)
- Reduced dermal hazards
Limitations
- High levels of dust can cause operator safety concerns during manufacture and application
- Difficult to mix in the spray tank
Microbial WP formulations
WP formulations are a suitable delivery system for microbial biopesticides. A water-free system ensures the storage environment for microbial actives remains inert, while the combination of dispersant and wetting agents ensures effective dilution before application.
Croda has developed Atlox™ BS-50, a ready-to-use wettable powder delivery system for formulating microbes as WP formulations. A powdered standalone product containing and optimised combination of dispersants, wetting agents and filler, Atlox BS-50 is designed to improve a microbial biopesticides wettability and dispersability without compromise in viability. Using Atlox BS-50 to formulate a microbial WP simply requires the user to mix Atlox BS-50 with a powdered microbe, and this ease of use offers a reduction in microbial WP formulation development time.
Features and benefits of Atlox BS-50
- A complete delivery system for microbial WP formulations
- Shorter formulation development time - easy to formulate
- Optimised composition to deliver best performance
- Fast wetting upon dilution in water for better application, even with microorganisms with high hydrophobicity
- Good suspensibility upon dilution
- Maintains viability of spores with common microorganisms
- Suitable for seed application
The Formulator's Toolbox (Full Version)
Products recommended for WP
Once the powder has been diluted in water and is ready for spraying (with the aid of the wetting agent), a dispersant is required to maintain the particles in suspension and prevent them from agglomerating.
Atlox Metasperse™ 550S
Atlox Metasperse™ 650S
Adinol™ OT-72
The Dispersol™ range are blended products with both dispersing and wetting properties. Please contact us to discuss if this range is available in your region.
Dispersol™ BB4
Dispersol™ PSR 19
The wetting agent aids in the incorporation of the wettable powder into the water phase at the time of dilution and functions at the solid/liquid interface. Wetting agents reduce the surface tension between the solid powder surface and the water surface, with the result that the powder wets and mixes with the water in the spray tank more easily.
Adinol™ OT-72
Atlox BS-50 is a ready-to-use wettable powder delivery system for formulating microbes as WP formulations