EFFECT OF PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION ON THE STABILITY OF PESTICIDE SUSPENSIONS

Abstract

The effect of particle size distribution and milling time on the stability of suspension-type pesticide formulations was studied for two pesticides being at the development stage at the North Hungarian Chemical Works: Tricomb 40 FW (active agents: propachlor, terbutryne and atrazine) and Terbutrin 40 FW (active agent: terbutryne). Optimum milling time was found to be ~90 min with Tricomb; with Terbutrin for the applied system of additives - milling time should not exceed 30 minutes. Milling trials should be performed with each new formulation before commercialization, since proper selection of particle size may be of great importance not only from the view of stability, but also from the view of potential energy savings.