MX2011009699A - 100% compostable films for mulchings, coatings and microtunnels of agricultural and horticulture use. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is related to the industrial sector for the manufacture of fittings and accessories for horticulture and agriculture and other areas where 100% compostable geomembranes are required for mulching, coatings and micro-tunnels intended to use in agriculture and horticulture, the films avoiding the growth of weed and insects, the increase in the soil temperature, fumigation, soil sterilization, also protecting crops against temperature changes and being degraded naturally or in a compost, complying with the standard ASTM 6400. The invention is reflected in 100% compostable films for mulching, coatings and micro-tunnels for use in horticulture and agriculture, these avoiding the growth of weed and insects, the increase in the soil temperature, fumigation, soil sterilization, also protecting crops against temperature changes, the geomembranes being dyed and having thick or thin callipers, with perforations, with prints or not, depending on the design and needs of the pr oducers.

Description

100% COMPOSTABLE FILMS FOR QUILTINGS, COVERS AND MICROTUNELS FOR AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL USE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is related to the industrial sector of the manufacture of implements and accessories for horticultural and agricultural use and other areas where 100% Composable films are required for quilts, covers and micro-tunnels for horticultural and agricultural use, to avoid the growth of weeds, control of weeds and insects, elevation of soil temperatures, fumigations, sterilization of soils and protection of the cultivated by changes in temperature.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION First of all it is important to define here what we understand by quilts, covers and micro-tunnels for horticultural and agricultural use, are those structures that are used to prevent the growth of weeds, control of weeds and insects, elevation of temperatures of soil, fumigations, sterilization of soils and crop protection due to changes in temperature.

The use of plastics in horticulture and agriculture has managed to convert apparently unproductive areas into modern agricultural areas. The main applications of plastics in agriculture are micro tunnels and quilting. Padding is a technique used to protect crops and the soil from the action of atmospheric agents.

These plastics are used to prevent the growth of weeds, for the control of weeds and insects, for the elevation of soil temperatures, fumigations, sterilization of soils and crop protection due to changes in temperature, for the care of the environment.

This cultivation technique has produced a remarkable increase in the economic performance of the plantations, and is applicable to a wide variety of crops.

Current plastics production companies make only 15% of the consumption of plastics generated by the country, so that it is changing the production processes and we have to resort to the products of the field to generate these polymers derived from starch of corn.

The agricultural plastic waste, from the plastics of the state of the art, cause problems to the environment if they are incinerated in an uncontrolled way or are not treated or stored properly. Among them, the contamination of the soils and of the superficial and subterranean waters stand out.

The plastics of the state of the art used for quilting, covers and micro tunnels for agricultural use, are manufactured with low density polyethylene. Both transparent and black plastics have been used, the former being more frequent. There is also a new generation of polyethylene in different colors in the market, which stimulate the photosynthetic process.

There is a very big problem worldwide with regard to plastics for quilts, roofs and micro-tunnels for horticultural and agricultural use and this problem is the recycling and contamination of the fields and the environment.

Although plastics can be recycled, there is no environmental care and education to recycle them, since they must be clean (without grease, diurex, paint, insecticides, fungicides and not be mixed with other types of plastics) and do not spend much time in the sun as their properties are altered and subsequently can not be recycled properly.

The use of plastics for agricultural use is a big problem, since there is no way to recycle them. same, the Government has tried to establish a Campo Limpio campaign and try to recycle plastics but nevertheless it is a problem that has not been able to be fought.

Thousands of tons of plastic are manufactured per year and therefore affect the aquifers and pollute the land. There are OXO DEGRADABLE and DEGRADED-BLES plastics, which degrade the sun on the earth causing a very strong impact on the environment.

There are some people who bury plastics, thinking about combating the pollution they cause by degrading to the weather, however, they take more than 100 years to degrade, thus affecting the environment, so this is not a good solution to combat the contamination.

Derived from the aforementioned, we are currently causing an impact on the environment as never before done.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION One of the objectives of the present invention is to achieve geo-membranes for the various uses in agriculture, such as padding, covers and micro-tunnels useful for agriculture, which are 100% compostable and which comply with AST 6400 standard. Compostability Another objective is to avoid contamination of land where the use of these plastics for agriculture is carried out, which are highly polluting.

Another objective is to reduce collection and recycling costs as well as the use of materials and supplies.

Another objective of the present invention is to avoid the generation of garbage and pollution by using plastics for agriculture that take years to degrade.

And all those objectives and advantages that will become apparent with the reading of the description accompanied by the drawings that are attached to the present for more non-restrictive explanatory purposes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In a few words, the present invention consists of Films 100% compostable that complies with the ASTM 6400 NORM of compostability for mulches, covers and micro-tunnels for horticultural and agricultural use, to prevent the growth of weeds, control of weeds and insects, elevation of soil temperatures, fumigations, sterilization of soils and crop protection due to changes in temperature, manufactured from sugars of plants converted to Polylactic Acid "PLA" derived from corn starch, 100% Compostable).

It was concluded that when using 100% compostable films, they can be used to make compost and instead of contaminating it would help the environment, improving production and increasing the effectiveness in the field.

Obviously, this requires that the material containing the films have the quality of being 100% compostable.

The material that would be used to produce the films for quilts, covers and micro-tunnels for horticultural and agricultural use, to prevent the growth of weeds, control of weeds and insects, elevation of soil temperatures, fumigations, soil sterilization / Crop protection due to changes in temperature. It should be 100% compostable, manufactured with a natural or modified biopolymer, such as chitin, chitosan, pectin, and polylactic acid. The latter is a 100% Compostable Biopolymer made by a North American company. This resin is manufactured with raw materials from renewable vegetable sources of sugars, mainly from corn starch, which is converted through a process in Polylactic Acid (PLA).

The composition of these bio-polymers for the manufacture of biodegradable films comply among other international standards such as the ASTM 6400 standard (American Society for Test and Materials) which ensures, among other things, the reintegration of products into the environment in brief periods. of time in optimal conditions of compost.

The 100% compostable films for quilts, covers and micro-tunnels for horticultural and agricultural use, to prevent the growth of weeds, control of weeds and insects, elevation of soil temperatures, fumigations, soil sterilization and crop protection by changes in temperature, they are able to develop an aerobic or anaerobic decomposition or action of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and algae, under conditions that naturally occur in the biosphere. They are degraded by the enzymatic action of microorganisms under normal environmental conditions.

From this material they are processed in extruder machines for the production of tubular rolls in the form of a film, open on one side or to open on both sides and use them in flat film and pigmented in color or natural. And in case the printed material is required, the printing machines would be passed through so that they can be cut to the required size and then packed.

These 100% compostable films are obtained by an extrusion process to obtain the film and can be manufactured in any color for different uses in horticulture and agriculture, using measures and calibers suitable for production, handling, use and transportation to the moment of extrusion.

For a better understanding of the invention, a detailed description will be made of some of the modalities thereof, shown in the drawings that are annexed to the present description for non-limiting illustrative purposes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is related to the industrial sector of the manufacture of implements and accessories for horticulture and agriculture and other areas where 100% compostable films are required.

They are used in horticulture and agriculture their function is in the use for quilts, covers and micro-tunnels for horticultural and agricultural use, to prevent the growth of weeds, control of weeds and insects, elevation of soil temperatures, fumigations, Soil sterilization and crop protection due to temperature changes, to avoid contamination and help improve the environment.

They are ideal because the degradation until their disintegration occurs under compost by the action of microorganisms.

For this there is a modality of the present invention. Is that the 100% compostable film we are talking about replaces the plastic films made with common polyethylene of low density or high density, and that degradation or natural or modified composting is made with the quality of being 100% compostable.

We could say then that the present invention is reflected, in a structure to avoid contamination to the environment and increase the use of compostable films in horticulture and agriculture to convert apparently unproductive areas into very modern agricultural areas.

Said films, in one of their modalities, are composed of a material that is characterized mainly by being 100% compostable, that can be degraded in a natural way or under compost that complies with the ASTM 6400 NORM.

As we have already mentioned, the material with which 100% compostable films are made for quilts, covers and micro-tunnels for horticultural and agricultural use, to prevent the growth of weeds, control of weeds and insects, temperature rise of soil, fumigations, soil sterilization and crop protection due to changes in temperature. It is a bio-polymer called poly-lactic acid, which is a resin made from raw materials from renewable vegetable sources of sugar, mainly from corn starch.

The invention has been sufficiently described so that a person with average skill in the art can reproduce and obtain the results that we mentioned in the present invention. However, any person skilled in the art field of the present invention may be able to make modifications not described in the present application, however, if for the application of these modifications in a certain structure or in the manufacturing process thereof, the subject matter claimed in the following claims is required, said structures shall be included within the scope of the invention.

Claims (9)

R E I V I N D I C A C I O N S Having described the invention, it is considered as a novelty and therefore the content of the following claims is claimed as property.

1. - Padding, covers and micro-tunnels for horticultural and agricultural use characterized by being manufactured with a 100% compostable biopolymer, manufactured in an extrusion or coextrusion machine to obtain a tubular film and give it the size of the film in width and length that is required.

2. - Padding, covers and micro-tunnels for horticultural and agricultural use characterized by being made of 100% compostable films that can be degraded in a natural way or under compost and that complies with the ASTM NORM.

3. Padding, covers and micro-tunnels for horticultural and agricultural use as claimed in the preceding claim, characterized in that said film is manufactured by 100% compostable biopolymer is selected from the group consisting of chitin, chitosan, pectin and poly lactic acid.

4- Padding, covers and micro-tunnels for horticultural and agricultural use as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, further characterized in that said 100% com-postable biopolymer can be manufactured in different widths of tubular type, open on one side, flat film or sectioned sheets.

5. - Cushions, covers and micro-tunnels for horticultural and agricultural use, as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, further characterized in that the said plastic film can be manufactured in different thicknesses.

6. - Cushions, covers and micro-tunnels for horticultural and agricultural use, as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, further characterized because they can be manufactured with adequate pigmentation in the color required and the amount of pigmentation desired , and that could be in one color of one face and another color different on the other side.

7. - Padding, covers and micro-tunnels for horticultural and agricultural use, as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 6, also characterized because they can be manufactured with printing or without printing, depending on what is desired.

8. - Padding, covers and micro-tunnels for horticultural and agricultural use, as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that they can be manufactured with perforations or without perforations, the amount that is required and at the height that they wish.

9. - Padding, covers and micro-tunnels for horticultural and agricultural use, as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that they comprise, in some area of its outer surface, a printed bar code with information diverse SUMMARY The present invention is related to the industrial sector of the manufacture of implements and accessories for horticulture and agriculture and other areas where 100% compostable geo-membranes are required for quilts, covers and micro-tunnels for horticultural and agricultural use, for avoid the growth of weeds, control of weeds and insects, elevation of soil temperatures, fumigation, sterilization of soils and protection of crops due to temperature changes, as well as being understood, that can be degraded naturally or under compost and that comply with the ASTM 6400 NORM. Our invention is reflected in 100% compostable films for quilts, roofs and micro-tunnels for horticultural and agricultural use, to prevent the growth of weeds, weed and insect control, elevation of soil temperatures, fumigations, soil sterilization and crop protection due to changes in temperature., pig In color and in thick or thin calibers, with perforations, with printing or without printing, all according to the design and need of the producers.