title: Influence of agricultural adjuvants on droplet spectra.
abstract: The formation of a spray is the result of interaction between the nozzle type and the spray liquid. When adjuvants lower the surface tension, a shift to a finer spray quality might be expected. Increases in viscosity might cause coarser sprays. The spray pressure, nozzle type and spray liquid determine spray performance. Adjuvants that cause droplets of oil in the spray mixture, for example crop oils, petroleum oils and even some water-insoluble emulsifiers and surfactants, may unexpectedly increase the spray droplet size. In cases where a finer spray is obtained, the volume fraction of drops smaller than 100 microm diameter, V(100), is expected to increase, but for some adjuvants a decrease in V(100) is observed. Finally, spray droplets may also differ when the concentration of the applied adjuvants changes. An overview based on reports in the literature is given of the effects of different classes of adjuvants used for agricultural cropping on spray droplet spectra. The effects of these adjuvants on spray formation depend on the type of nozzle in combination with the applied pressure.
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Crop Protection Chemistry, Coupure links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium. Pieter.Spanoghe@UGent.be
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Spanoghe
authors.forename: Mieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Schampheleire
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van der Meeren
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Steurbaut
mesh_terms: D016573:Agrochemicals / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000438:Alcohols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008055:Lipids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010571:Pest Control / Q000379:methods; D010574:Pesticide Synergists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011108:Polymers / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012997:Solvents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013500:Surface Tension; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013729:Terpenes / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D016573:Agrochemicals; D000438:Alcohols; D008055:Lipids; D010574:Pesticide Synergists; D011108:Polymers; D012997:Solvents; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D013729:Terpenes