ASKOCOATTM

Spray Curing Process

Resins for Fertilizer Coatings, 2019
ASKOCOATTM – Resins for Fertilizer Coatings
 ASK Chemicals offers 2K PU resin systems for the production of polymer coated controlled
release fertilizers based on all kind of granules.
 Part A contains a modified solvent-free phenolic resin formulation with natural oils.
 Part B contains a modified isocyanate formulation including a bench life extender to inhibit the
acceleration and to achieve a controllable reaction in the mixing equipment.
 Amines accelerate this reaction; so far recommendation of gaseous DMIPA.

 ASK developed a new coating process using a liquid catalyst.

 Advantages, coatings procedures and results will be presented on the next slides.

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Agenda
 Equipment

 General Information

 Experimental Part

 Results

 Summary

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Coater

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Dosing pumps

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Conductivity Equipment

Cold-Water test Hot-Water test

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Gas Curing Process (5 x 2wt% PU, coating procedure @ 70 °C)

Experimental Part:
 2 kg fertilizer granules (NPK) are preheated to 70°C and filled into the coating drum
 Prepare a mixture of 20 g Askocoat 420 and 20 g Askocoat 500
(2 wt% with respect to NPK fertilizer)
 Slowly add the premix to the preheated fertilizer granules
 Add gaseous catalyst stream and wait until curing occurs (this will take several seconds)
 Remove catalyst by flushing with air and transfer to an acid-scrubber
 Repeat coating procedure to achieve the appropriate release properties
(recommendation of 5 steps).

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 Askocoat 420 + Askocoat 500 (standard, gas curing)

20 Increasing PU-layer thickness!

1 x 2wt% PU-coating (2wt%)

conductivity / mS cm-1

15
2 x 2wt% PU-coating (4wt%)

10 3 x 2wt% PU-coating (6wt%)

4 x 2wt% PU-coating (8wt%)

5 5 x 2wt% PU-coating (10wt%)

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
time / h

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Why using the Spray Curing Process?
 Gaseous catalyst, e.g. dimethyl-N-propylamine (DMIPA), needs a special handling due to high
volatility (including hazardous materials transportation)
Easy handling of catalyst desired

 Gaseous catalyst needs a special nozzle-system in order to ensure a good distribution

Easy dosing of catalyst desired

 Gaseous catalyst emissions are caught with an acid scrubber

No acid-scrubber required to remove emissions of amine in the case of liquid catalyst

 Curing with gaseous catalyst needs ATEX equipment

No ATEX equipment required for liquid catalyst with high flash point (fp)

Low-cost alternative while maintaining all safety standards!

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Alternatives to Gaseous Catalyst
Gaseous catalyst DMIPA, fp ~ -11°C, ATEX-equipment absolutely recommended!
bp ~ 65 °C

Liquid catalyst Cat 804, fp ~ 40°C: Easy handling, ATEX-equipment recommended

bp ~ 134°C

Liquid catalyst Cat 806, fp ~ 88°C: Easy handling, no ATEX-equipment necessary

bp ~ 204 °C

CH3
 Cat 804 and Cat 806 differ in chemical structur –R–
HO R N
 Hydroxy-functionality –OH irreversibly reacts with isocyanate CH3
No emissions!

* fp: flash point

* bp: boiling point
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Spray Curing Process (5 x 2wt% PU; coating procedure @ 70 °C)

Experimental Part:
 2 Kg fertilizer granules (NPK) are preheated to 70°C and filled into the coating drum
 1st step: Prepare a mixture of 20 g Askocoat 420 and 20 g Askocoat 500
(2 wt% with respect to NPK fertilizer)
 Slowly add the premix to the preheated fertilizer granules
 Spray curing with 2 mL Cat806
 2nd – 5th step: Prepare a mixture of 20 g Askocoat 420 and 20 g Askocoat 500
(2 wt% with respect to NPK fertilizer)
 Slowly add the premix to the preheated fertilizer granules
 Spray curing with 1 mL Cat806

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 Askocoat 420 + Askocoat 500 (Spray Curing)

20
Increasing PU-layer thickness!
Improved performance!
conductivity / mS cm-1

15 1 x 2wt% PU-coating (2wt%)

2 x 2wt% PU-coating (4wt%)

10
3 x 2wt% PU-coating (6wt%)

4 x 2wt% PU-coating (8wt%)

5
5 x 2wt% PU-coating (10wt%)

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
time / h

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Summary

 The use of liquid curing agents with high flash points opens the path for a straightforward
coating process
 Curing agents with high flash and boiling points allow easy handling and avoid the installation
of ATEX equipment
 Hydroxy-functionality of liquid curing agents results in an incorporation of the catalyst in the
PU-shell
No emissions of amine, no acid scrubber
 Spray curing process offers comparable nutrient-release characteristics

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Thanks!

© ASK Chemicals 2015