Influence of polymeric surfactants on pesticidal suspension concentrates: dispersing ability, milling efficiency and stabilization power

This paper deals with the influence of different polymeric surfactants respectively dispersants on three crucial aspects for the formulation of pesticides as water based suspension concentrates: the dispersing ability of the polymeric surfactant for the solid active ingredient, the support of the wet milling process leading to a better milling efficiency and the stabilization of the particles against agglomeration and Ostwald ripening upon storage. Therefore a wide range of polymeric surfactants respectively dispersants with different chemistry and/or molecular weight has been tested in our laboratories with regard to these three parameters. As expected, the chemical nature and the molecular weight of the polymeric surfactant respectively dispersant plays an important role for all three points of interest as well as the physico-chemical parameters of the used pesticidal active ingredient.