JP2008523172A - Soil conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a soil amendment product, which comprises (a) a carrier, oil and polymer binder, (b) a carrier and oil, (c) a carrier and gel, or (d) a carrier, gel and polymer bond. Contains agents. Other ingredients can be added to any of these soil improvement products. The resulting soil improvement product is neither a gel nor a liquid and can be added to the soil as a granular material. A surface material comprising (a) soil; and (b) a soil amendment product, the soil amendment product comprising (i) a carrier, (ii) oil, and (iii) a polymer binder. Surface materials containing soil improvement products are also provided.

Description

(Field of Invention)
The present invention relates to a product that can be used to improve soil, a process for making the product, a surface material containing the product and soil, and a process for making the surface material. The soil improvement product according to the present invention preferably contains (a) a carrier, oil and polymer soil binder, (b) a carrier and oil, (c) a carrier and gel, or (d) a carrier, gel and polymer binder. To do.

(Background of the Invention)
As used throughout this specification, the following terms in brackets are defined as follows:
a. The term “soil” refers to the earth's particulate surface material, which may or may not contain organic substances, and is comprised of sand, silt, clay and crushed stone (eg, decomposed granite). Containing one or more of

  b. The term “sand” refers to any granular material formed by the weathering of rocks to form particles that are smaller than gravel but coarser than silt. Sand may or may not contain an organic substance.

  c. The term “silt” refers to any unconsolidated material, including rock particles, usually having a diameter of 1/20 mm or less, generally smaller than sand but coarser than clay, due to sedimentation. The silt may or may not contain an organic substance.

  d. The term "clay" is (1) a surface inorganic material that is plastic when it contains moisture but hardens when baked and contains primarily hydrated aluminum silicate and / or other minerals Inorganic substance, or (2) a substance having the properties of clay. The clay contains dry or wet substances and may or may not contain organic substances.

  e. The term “organic binder” refers to any organic material that has a tendency to bind soil particles together when mixed with soil particles, wetted, and subsequently dried. Organic binders include dried and crushed psyllium.

  f. The term “carrier” refers to any substance that is granular (or particulate) at room temperature and forms a soil improvement product when mixed with an oil and polymer binder. The soil improvement product can be mixed with the soil as a granular material rather than as a liquid. This carrier is preferably an organic binder, such as dried and ground psyllium.

  g. The term “fiber” refers to any fiber, ribbon or string of material used to impart mechanical strength to the soil.

  h. The term “oil” refers to any substance (eg, soybean oil, cottonseed oil, petroleum, or mineral oil) that can be dispersed or dissolved in a polymer binder and that results in a soil improvement product when mixed with a carrier and polymer binder. means. In the context of the present invention, the “oil” can be an aqueous solution, depending on the nature of the carrier and the polymer binder.

  i. The term “polymer binder” or “polymer soil binder” means a soil binder that binds soil particles together and can be dispersed or dissolved in oil.

  j. The term “soil amendment product” or “soil amendment agent” is a carrier that is granular material (not liquid) at a temperature of at least between 60 ° F. and 100 ° F. and that can bind soil particles together. A mixture of oil and polymer binder, a mixture of carrier and oil, a mixture of carrier and gel, or a mixture of carrier, gel and polymer binder, each of which may contain other ingredients (eg, wax) ) In any mixture.

  k. The term “surface material” means any mixture of soil and a soil improvement product according to the invention.

  It is known to mix organic binders with soil to make improved surface materials, and such processes and products are disclosed in US Pat. The basic description of one process according to the invention of Patent Document 1 is to mix dried and crushed psyllium with soil and place this mixture on the ground at a preferred depth of 2 inches to 6 inches; Wetting the mixture, compressing the mixture and drying the mixture. The resulting surface is hard and the product and process can be used to form, among other things, the surface of a main roadside, outdoor parking lot, golf cart aisle, sidewalk, or baseball infield runway. Although this product is successful, it must be sufficiently wetted and compressed to create a good surface. Operator error in any of these steps can lead to undesirable end products. Furthermore, it is difficult to place this material on the slope because there is no adhesion between the soil and the organic binder before it is wetted. This is because this mixture has a tendency to slide down this slope. Furthermore, the resulting surface is not water resistant.

  Another known method for improving the soil is simply to use a polymer binder. Known polymer binders are usually solid sticky materials at temperatures below 100 ° F. and must be heated (to a syrup-like consistency) and mixed with the soil, which Is a time consuming and difficult process. U.S. Pat. No. 6,057,059 to Beardon discloses a surface material that contains sand, at least one of clay or silt, and a binder, the binder comprising a non-aromatic oil or low-oil. Contains an interpolymerized polymeric binder dissolved or dispersed in an aromatic oil. The binder is generally fluid at soil treatment conditions and an aqueous emulsion of the binder can be sprayed onto the soil present.

  U.S. Pat. No. 6,057,086 to Hawkins et al. Discloses a surrogate surface material that is 10% dissolved in oil (this oil is generally a grease that does not flow freely under normal truck service conditions). About 94% sand or similar material added to a polymer binder containing a polymer material such as ethylene vinyl acetate, polystyrene, nylon, polypropylene or polyvinyl chloride.

  U.S. Pat. No. 6,057,059 to Hawkins et al. Discloses surrogate surface material suitable for use as a “cushion” portion of a horse racing or dog racing track. As disclosed, this surrogate surface material contains 10% styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer dissolved in oil (this oil is generally a grease that does not flow freely under normal truck service conditions). About 94% sand or similar material added to the binder. Other disclosed polymers include polypropylene. The resulting coated surrogate surface material (which can be permanently rubbed) is then overlaid as a cushioning layer on the subsoil or a loosely-graded porous base. The top of this cushion is maintained by scoring.

  U.S. Pat. No. 5,677,059 to Hawkins discloses surrogate surface material suitable for use as a “cushion” portion of a racetrack or dog race track. As disclosed, the surrogate surface material comprises 20% to 40% styrene-butadiene-styrene dissolved in an aromatic oil, which is generally free flowing under normal truck use conditions. Contains about 98% sand or similar material added to the binder containing the copolymer. The resulting coated surrogate surface material (which can be permanently rubbed) is then overlaid on the subsoil or a loose base with appropriate porosity gradient as a cushion layer. The surface is maintained by scorching and light rollering.

  US Pat. No. 5,689,028, published on Mar. 27, 1991, discloses surrogate surface material suitable for use as a “cushion” portion of a horse racing or dog racing track. As disclosed, the surrogate surface material comprises 10 wt% to 60 wt% styrene-butadiene dissolved in an aromatic oil (the aromatic oil is generally free flowing under normal truck use conditions). -About 93.5% to 98% by weight sand or similar material added to the binder containing the styrene copolymer. The resulting coated surrogate surface material (which can be permanently rubbed) is then overlaid on the subsoil or a loose base with appropriate porosity gradient as a cushion layer. The top of this cushion is maintained by scoring.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,057,028 and 6,028,836 to Hubbs are hereby incorporated by reference.
US Reissue Patent No. 35989 Specification US Pat. No. 5,559,166 U.S. Pat. No. 4,792,133 U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,870 US Pat. No. 4,968,024 European Patent Application No. 0419170 US Pat. No. 5,746,546 US Pat. No. 6,821,332

(Summary of the Invention)
The present invention relates to a soil improvement product, a process for making the soil improvement product, a surface material containing soil and a soil improvement product, and a process for making the surface material.

  The soil improvement product according to the present invention preferably contains (a) a carrier, (b) an oil, and (c) a polymer binder. Optional soil amendment products contain (d) carrier and oil, (e) carrier and gel, or (f) carrier, gel and polymer binder. Other ingredients can be added to any of these soil improvement products.

  The carrier is a granular material, preferably absorbs at least some of the oil and allows the soil amendment product itself to become granules, so that the soil amendment product is more easily than a gel or liquid. Can be mixed with soil. The carrier is preferably a granular organic soil binder, and most preferably dried and ground psyllium, especially dried and ground psyllium containing more than 80% psyllium seed husk. is there.

  The oil can be any material in which the polymeric binder is dissolved or dispersed. Suitable examples for use in the present invention are non-aromatic or low aromatic oils (eg, paraffinic or low aromatic naphthenic oil, soybean oil, cottonseed oil, and mineral oil). The polymer binder is sufficiently tacky to adhere to the soil particles, can be dissolved or dispersed in the oil, and preferably contains an interpolymer.

  A preferred process for making a soil amendment is to heat the oil or gel to a temperature at which the polymer binder is dispersed or dissolved in the oil or gel, and then the oil / polymer or oil / gel formulation as a carrier. And a step of forming a soil conditioner. This soil conditioner can be added to the soil as a granular material.

  The process for making the surface material involves mixing the soil conditioner according to the present invention with the soil in granular form. The granular soil conditioner can be mixed with the soil using known mixing techniques (eg, blender blending, drilling, rubbing, or mixing in a bucket).

(Detailed description of the invention)
The present invention relates to a soil amendment product, the soil amendment product comprising (a) a carrier, an oil and a polymer binder, (b) a carrier and an oil, or (c) a carrier and a gel. Or (d) contains a carrier, a gel, and a polymer binder. Other ingredients may be included in any of these soil amendment products as needed. Each of these components is described below.

(Career)
The surface material according to the present invention contains one or more carriers and, as used herein, “carrier” refers to one or more carriers. The carrier is any granular (or particulate) material that, when mixed with oil, oil and polymer binder, gel, or gel and polymer binder, is granular rather than liquid Forms a soil improvement product that can be added to the soil as a substance. The carrier is preferably one or more organic binders (eg, dried and ground psyllium (also known as “Psyllium”)). When dry and ground psyllium is used, it preferably contains psyllium seed husks, and most preferably contains 80% or more psyllium seed husks. Other binders can be utilized, whether organic or inorganic. In a preferred embodiment, the binder is a binder that absorbs part of the liquid component of the oil, gel and / or polymer binder, so that the resulting soil improvement product is applied to the soil as a granular material. Can be added. The amount and type of binder contained is selected to provide a soil improvement product with the desired consistency.

(oil)
As used herein, “oil” refers to one or more oils. The purpose of the oil is to dissolve or disperse the polymer binder in the oil and make a mixture of oil and polymer binder. This mixture can be mixed with a carrier to form a substance that can be mixed with the soil as a granular material rather than as a gel or liquid. Among suitable petroleum oils are those that contain a low aromatic fraction or a non-aromatic fraction and that are generally fluid at temperatures between 30 ° C and 120 ° C. Examples of oils suitable for use in the present invention include paraffinic oils and low aromatic naphthenic oils. Commercial examples of paraffinic oils include Brightstock FN-2507 extracted with Exxon's 150 SE solvent, and commercial examples of low aromatic naphthalene based oils include Cyclobe No. from Witco. 2290. In addition, soybean oil, cottonseed oil, or mineral oil can be used, and HT-100 mineral oil from IGI is most preferred. The oil can also be a water-based solution, depending on the nature of the carrier and polymer binder.

(Polymer binder)
The polymeric binder according to the present invention is any substance that can be dissolved or dispersed in oil and provides adhesion between the solid particles (ie, binds the solid particles). The polymer binder aids in overcoating the outer surface of the finished surface material due to the particle adhesion provided by the polymer binder and because the polymer binder is preferably water resistant.

  Suitable polymeric binders for use in the present invention include interpolymers of butene, ethylene and / or propylene and ethylenically unsaturated monomers such as vinyl acetate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl acrylate and the like. Can be mentioned. Other polymeric binders suitable for use in the present invention include amorphous polymers that are soluble or dispersible in oil according to the present invention. Commercial examples of suitable poly alpha-olefin interpolymers include Vestplast 608 or Vestplast 708 from Huls. The most preferred polymer binder is VESTOPLALT® Sl, which is available from CREANOVA Inc. , Turner Place, Box 365, Piscataway, NJ 08855. Its Environmental & Regulated Affairs, Information Number is 908-981-5016.

(gel)
The gel according to the invention has a viscosity of the gel, the ability of the gel to bind soil particles, the ability of the surface from which the gel is obtained to be water resistant, and when mixed with a carrier, the resulting mixture as a granular material. Depending on whether it can be added to the soil, it can be used instead of oil, can be used in addition to oil, or can be used instead of oil and polymer binder.

  A preferred gel is Petox 310, which has a soft petroleum jelly consistency.

(soil)
The soil according to the present invention is one or more of clay, sand, mud sink, decomposed granite, and gravel and may or may not contain organic material.

  Preferred clays are dried in the package and Baroid Drilling Fluids, P.M. O. Called “Mud Gel Wyoming Bentonite”, sold by Box 1675, Houston, Texas 77251. However, any clay can be used to practice the present invention, and it is contemplated that the clay may be dry or contain moisture. Clay is typically used to provide particles that stick when wet to form a soft, sufficiently sturdy surface material. The surface of the clay can become very sturdy when dried.

  Virtually any of granulated granite with sand particles (also referred to as “DG”) can be used, and ¼ inch D.D. G. Or D. finely screened to a size of 2 mils. G. Is mentioned.

(Wax (optional))
Among the waxes that can be used for the practice of the present invention is IGI 422. IGI 422 is a microcrystalline based crude wax. IGI 422 has the tackiness and flexibility that is usual in several grades of microcrystalline wax. IGI 422 is recommended for use as a coating or impregnated for waterproofing, compound removal, metal protection, lubrication, polishing, tanning and has the following physical properties:

＊ 改変された試験方法。１ｇのサンプル／３０ｍｌの溶媒（６０％ＭＥＫ、４０％トルエン）。
ＦＤＡ状況：ＩＧＩ ４２２は、食品との接触を意図されていない。

* Modified test method. 1 g sample / 30 ml solvent (60% MEK, 40% toluene).
FDA situation: IGI 422 is not intended for food contact.

  IGI 1266U is another wax that can be used to practice the present invention. IGI 1266U is a relatively high melting point refined paraffin wax and can be used for applications that do not require waxes that meet FDA specifications. IGI 1266U has the following physical properties:

ＦＤＡ状況：ＩＧＩ １２６６Ｕは、食品との接触を意図されていない。

FDA situation: IGI 1266U is not intended for food contact.

  Each of the waxes described in 85 Old Eagle School Road, P.A. O. Box 384, Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087 and 50 Salum Drive, Aginocourt, Ontario, CANADA M2S 2A8, International Group, Inc. ("IGI").

  The purpose of the wax is to soften the surface material and to provide additional stickiness between the soil particles. Any wax that can perform these functions can be used.

  Further, any of the waxes described above (or any wax suitable for practicing the present invention) can be provided in an emulsion (eg, an emulsion with water) and procedures for making such an emulsion include , Known to those skilled in the field of emulsifying materials (eg waxes). The emulsion can then be stored and / or transported in any suitable container (eg, can, tank or drum). The emulsion can be added to the mixture of soil and the soil conditioner according to the invention in any manner (eg by pouring or spraying the mixture).

(Production of soil improvement products)
Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b) illustrate some preferred views for making a soil improvement product according to the present invention. When a polymer binder is used, the oil or gel is first heated to a temperature at which the binder dissolves or disperses in the oil or gel. This is preferably a temperature between 250 ° F and 400 ° F, and most preferably between 265 ° F and 280 ° F.

  Preferably, 1% to 30% by weight of polymer binder is dissolved or dispersed in the oil or gel, although up to 90% by weight of polymer binder can be used. The resulting mixture is then mixed with the carrier, preferably in a blender, and preferably about 25-80% by weight of the mixture while the mixture is still between 250 ° F and 400 ° F. It is mixed in a carrier weight ratio, and most preferably in a carrier weight ratio of 40% to 60% by weight.

  It is also possible to first mix the carrier and oil together and then add the polymer binder at an elevated temperature.

  Furthermore, only the oil or gel can be added to the carrier, preferably by first heating the oil or gel and then mixing with the carrier in the same weight ratio as above.

  Optionally, the wax can be dissolved or dispersed in the oil or gel, or before the carrier is mixed with the oil, gel, oil / gel mixture, oil / polymer binder mixture or gel / polymer binder mixture or After mixing, the emulsifying wax can be added to the carrier.

(Mixed with soil)
The soil improvement product according to the present invention can be blended or mixed with soil in any manner used to mix or blend granular materials. Among suitable techniques, mixing in a blender, bucket mixing using a front-end loader or bulldozer (also called bucket blending), plowing by hand or machine on the spot, or using a pharmaceutical blender Forming a premix or using a concrete mixer. Other materials (eg, other soil materials, organic binders or other organic materials, rubber particles or fibers) can be added to or present in the mixture and the finished surface product Can exist in. Preferably, the soil amendment product does not need to be heated prior to mixing with the soil.

  Depending on the consistency and type of the soil and the desired characteristics of the finished surface material, 5 to 50 pounds of soil improvement product according to the invention is preferably added to 1 ton of soil. The surface material may also contain rubber strips, fibers, or other components that alter the properties of the surface material.

  The surface material can be applied to the surface in any manner, such as a method of applying a surface material known to those skilled in the art. Generally, this material is placed on the surface at the desired depth and is compressed using any method prior to use. The material may also be graded, scratched, watered and / or dried prior to use.

  The surface layer utilizing the present invention can be of any depth and is generally between 2 and 6 inches depending on the application. For example, a layer about 6 inches deep may be used for a pitcher mound or a racetrack track. The layer on the runway can be between 1/4 inch and 3 inches deep. The present invention provides virtually any surface application (especially baseball infields, soccer fields, handball courts, tennis courts, horse training grounds, playgrounds, horse jumping and competition surfaces, outdoor parking lots, highway roadsides and embankments. Can be used for golf sand bunker linings, golf cart walkways, sidewalks or job paths, or for bonding and sealing bricks or paving stones to the walkway, or for other uses.

  If the soil amendment product contains only oils and / or gels that alone cannot sufficiently bind the soil particles to provide the desired surface characteristics, the carrier should be an organic binder and the soil and soil The mixture with the improved product must be watered, preferably compressed and then dried to provide proper soil adhesion. In this case, the organic binder mucus provides soil adhesion, and the purpose of the oil and / or gel depends on the oil or gel adhesion properties, some water resistance, and possibly some soil Is to provide adhesion. Furthermore, any mixture according to the present invention (even including a polymer binder) can be watered, preferably compressed and dried to change the final characteristics of the surface material (especially organic When a binder is used as a carrier).

  The present invention results in a soil improvement product that can be added to the soil as a granular material. Among the advantages of the present invention are lifetime, water resistance, and in some cases, suitable surface materials can be formed without the need for watering (especially when a polymer binder is used).

  While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described herein, modifications that do not depart from the spirit of the invention will become apparent to others. Accordingly, the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments, but is described in the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Unless otherwise stated in the claims, the steps of the method may be performed in any order that may provide the results according to the present invention.

FIG. 1a shows a method for making a soil improvement product according to the invention. FIG. 1b shows an alternative method for making a soil improvement product according to the invention. FIG. 2 (a) shows a method for making a surface material according to the present invention. FIG. 2 (b) shows an alternative method for making the surface material according to the present invention.

Claims (30)

A soil improvement product for mixing with soil, the soil improvement product comprising:
(A) career,
A soil amendment product comprising (b) an oil, and (c) a polymer binder.   The soil improvement product according to claim 1, wherein the carrier is an organic binder.   The soil improvement product according to claim 2, wherein the carrier contains dried and crushed psyllium.   The soil improvement product according to claim 3, wherein the carrier contains dried and crushed psyllium seed husk.   The soil improvement product according to claim 4, wherein the carrier contains 80% or more of dried and ground psyllium seed husk.   The soil amendment product according to claim 1, further comprising wax.   The soil improvement product according to claim 6, wherein the wax is an emulsified wax.   The soil improvement product according to claim 1, wherein the polymer soil binder contains an amorphous olefin.   The soil amendment product of claim 1, wherein the polymer soil binder is Vestplast 608.   The soil amendment product of claim 1, wherein the polymeric soil binder is Vestplast 708.   The soil improvement product according to claim 1, wherein the oil is mineral oil.   The soil improvement product according to claim 1, wherein the polymer soil binder is IGI HT-100 oil.   The soil improvement product according to claim 1, wherein the oil is soybean oil.   The soil improvement product according to claim 1, wherein the polymer soil binder is cottonseed oil.   The soil improvement product according to claim 1, wherein the oil is petroleum.   The soil improvement product according to claim 1, wherein the oil is a paraffinic oil.   The soil improvement product according to claim 1, wherein the oil is a low aromatic naphthenic oil.   The soil improvement product of claim 1, wherein the weight percentage of oil to polymer binder is between 10% and 90%.   The soil amendment product according to claim 1, comprising between 20% and 80% by weight of carrier.   The soil improvement product according to claim 1, further comprising a gel.   The soil improvement product of claim 1, wherein the carrier, oil and polymer binder are mixed together in a blender.   A soil improvement product containing an organic binder mixed with oil.   23. The soil improvement product of claim 22, further comprising wax.   A soil amendment product containing an organic binder mixed with gel.   25. A soil amendment product according to claim 24, further comprising a polymer binder.   25. The soil improvement product of claim 24, further comprising wax. A surface material,
(A) soil; and (b) a soil improvement product, the soil improvement product comprising (i) a carrier, (ii) oil, and (iii) a polymer binder,
Containing surface material.   28. The surface material of claim 27, wherein the soil contains one or more of the group consisting of sand, silt, crushed stone, clay and gravel.   The surface material according to claim 27, further comprising an organic substance. A method of making a soil improvement product comprising the following steps:
(A) heating the oil to a temperature at which the polymer binder dissolves in or disperses in the oil;
(B) adding a polymer binder to the oil and dissolving the polymer binder in the oil or dispersing in the oil; and (c) a mixture of the oil and polymer binder; Mixing with a carrier to form a granular soil improvement product,
Including the method.

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