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Published on: January 7, 2019
Preparation and Properties of a Novel Semi-IPN Slow-Release Fertilizer with the Function of Water Retention
Yang Xiang1, Xudong Ru1, Jinguo Shi1
1Research Center for Engineering Technology of Polymeric Composites of Shanxi Province, School of Materials Science and Engineering, North University of China , Taiyuan 030051, China.
Abstract:
A new semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) slow-release fertilizer (SISRF) with water absorbency, based on the kaolin-g-poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylic amide) (kaolin-g-P(AA-co-AM)) network and linear urea-formaldehyde oligomers (UF), was prepared by solution polymerization. Nutrients phosphorus and potassium were supplied by adding dipotassium hydrogen phosphate during the preparation process. The structure and properties of SISRF were characterized by various characterization methods. SISRF showed excellent water absorbency of 68 g g-1 in tap water. The slow-release behavior of nutrients and water-retention capacity of SISRF were also measured. Meanwhile, the swelling kinetics was well described by a pseudo-second-order kinetics model. Results suggested the formation of SISRF with simultaneously good slow-release and water-retention capacity, which was expected to apply in modern agriculture and horticulture.
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