Claims
- 1. A product for underground dispersion by an air stream comprising a mixture of dry particles of water-absorbent polymers, of which from about 10 to about 20 percent by weight have particle sizes no greater than one-half millimeter and the remainder of which have particle sizes greater than one-half millimteter.
- 2. The product of claim 1 wherein the dry particles of water-absorbent polymers comprise by weight from 55 to 80 percent of cross-linked polyacrylamide and from 20 to 45 percent polyacrylate.
- 3. The product of claim 2 in which the particles comprise about 60 percent by weight of cross-linked polyacrylamide and about 40 percent polyacrylate.
- 4. The product of claim 1 in which said remainder have particle sizes of between one and two millimeters.
- 5. The product of claim 1 in which the particles comprised from about 55 to about 80 percent by weight of cross-linked polyacrylamide.
- 6. The product of claim 1 in which the water-absorbent polymers are selected from the group consisting of: (a) polyacrylate; (b) polyvinyl alcohol; (c) starch-based copolymers; and (d) cross-linked polyacrylamide.
- 7. The product of claim 1 in which the dry particles of absorbent polymers comprise materials that, when wetted, form a gel.
- 8. A mixture for use in promoting in-ground plant growth comprising:
- (a) a first multitude of dry particles of water-absorbent polymers having particle sizes no greater than one-half millimeter; and
- (b) a second multitude of dry particles of water-absorbent polymers having particle sizes greater than one-half millimeter, the second multitude being blended with the first multitude;
- (c) wherein the weight of the second multitude is at least five but not more than ten times the weight of the first multitude.
- 9. The mixture of claim 8 wherein both the first multitude and the second multitude of dry particles of water-absorbent polymers comprise by weight from about 55 to about 80 percent of cross-linked polyacrylamide and a quantity of polyacrylate.
- 10. The mixture of claim 9 wherein both the first multitude and the second multitude of dry particles of water-absorbent polymers comprise by weight about 60% cross-linked polyacrylamide and about 40% polyacrylate.
- 11. The mixture of claim 10 wherein the water-absorbent polymers in each of the first and said second multitudes are selected from the group consisting of: (a) polyacrylate; (b) polyvinyl alcohol; (c) starch-based copolymers; and (d) cross-linked polyacrylamide.
- 12. The mixture of claim 8 wherein the second multitude of dry particles of water-absorbent polymers have particle sizes of between one and two millimeters.
- 13. The mixture of claim 8 wherein the first multitude of dry particles of water-absorbent polymers comprises from about 55 to about 80 percent by weight of cross-linked polyacrylamide admixed with a polyacrylate material.
- 14. The mixture of claim 13 wherein the second multitude of dry particles of water-absorbent polymers comprises from about 55 to about 80 percent by weight of cross-linked polyacrylamide admixed with a polyacrylate material.
- 15. The mixture of claim 8 wherein the second multitude of dry particles of water-absorbent polymers comprises from about 55 to about 80 percent by weight of cross-linked polyacrylamide admixed with a polyacrylate material.
- 16. The mixture of claim 8 wherein the dry particles of water-absorbent polymers in each of the first and second multitudes comprises materials that, when wetted, form a gel.
- 17. The mixture of claim 8 wherein the blend of the first and the second multitudes forms a gel when wetted.
- 18. The mixture of claim 8 further comprising a third multitude of dry particles selected from at least one member of the set of pesticides, herbicides, fertilizer, and plant seeds.
- 19. A product for promoting plant growth comprising a quantity of dry particles of water-absorbent polymers, which particles, when wetted, form a gel; and in which between 10 and 20 percent by weight of the particles have particle sizes no greater than one-half millimeter and the remainder of the particles have particle sizes greater than one-half millimeter; at least 55 percent of the polymers by weight being a cross-linked polyacrylamide material.
- 20. The product of claim 19 wherein at least 80 percent by weight of the particles have grain sizes greater than one millimeter.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/228,098, filed Apr. 15, 1994, abandoned, which is a division of application Ser. No. 07/880,907, filed May 8, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,663.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
880907 |
May 1992 |
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Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
228098 |
Apr 1994 |
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