Adherent Controlled Release Pesticide Using Organo Poly Siloxanes

This invention relates to methods and compositions for the controlled release of bioactive agents and, more particularly, to the controlled release of pesticides, such as insecticides.

The utilization of bioactive agents such as pesticides, e.g., insecticides, herbicides and fungicides has become an important fact of life. However, these materials are generally effective only as long as they persist on the substrate to which they are applied.

The basic motivation underlying the modern development of controlled release pesticidal materials has been to extend the duration between applications and thus increase the efficiency and hence economy of control. Controlled release of pesticides permits extended time intervals between treatments and reduction of the dosage, thus reducing environmental impact. Thus, from an ecological standpoint, controlled release of pesticides enhances the lifetime of a non-persistent agent at the site of treatment while maintaining the preferred property of rapid detoxification in the environment surrounding the controlled release pesticide.

The desired controlled release of pesticides has previously been achieved by their incorporation within a polymeric matrix, e.g., encapsulation wherein a pest control agent is surrounded by an enveloping polymeric wall that permits loss through diffusion, permeation or degradation; dispersion of the pesticide in an elastomer or a plastic wherein the pesticide is released through leaching or diffusion; and the chemical combination of the pesticide with a polymer in such a manner that the appended pesticide slowly breaks off the polymeric backbone upon exposure to the pest infested environment. However, the prior art approaches fall short of the desired goal in that there is not adequate provision for the adhesion of the pesticide within the polymeric matrix to the substrate. This permits the removal or transfer of the material from the substrate as a result of physical contact, wind, rain or other atmospheric conditions.

One object of the present invention is to provide a process for the controlled release of bioactive agents such as pesticides.

Another object of the present invention is to improve the adhesion of such an agent to suitable substrates and thus to increase its effective lifetime.

Another object of the present invention is to provide stable compositions which after application to a suitable substrate and exposure to the atmosphere, undergo in situ chemical reaction resulting in adherent insecticides with controlled release characteristics.

A further object of the present invention is to provide novel compositions containing reactive polysiloxanes, adhesion promoting, crosslinking reactive silanes and organic titanium compounds and insecticides.

These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by using a mixture consisting of (a) an organopolysiloxane containing hydroxyl groups or functional groups which are hydrolyzable to hydroxyl groups, (b) a hydrolyzable silane selected from the group consisting of (1) a hydrocarbon substituted hydrolyzable silane, (2) an organopolysiloxane containing hydrolyzable silane groups, and (3) a partial hydrolyzate of (1) and/or (2), (c) a hydrolyzable organic titanium compound or a partial hydrolyzate thereof, and (d) an insecticide.

The organopolysiloxanes suitable for use in the practice of the present invention are well known in the art and contain the structural unit ##STR1## wherein X is a hydroxyl radical or a hydrolyzable radical such as alkoxy, acyloxy, hydrogen, halogen and the like and R and R' are oxygen (i.e., the group--O--) or non-hydrolyzable hydrocarbon, substituted hydrocarbon or heterocyclic radicals and are the same or different. When R and R' are hydrocarbon radicals, they may be acyclic or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated and include aliphatic radicals such as methyl, ethyl, vinyl, propyl, allyl, butyl, crotyl, hexyl, decyl, dodecyl, hexadecyl, octadecyl, octadecenyl radicals and the like as well as halogenated or other substituted aliphatic radicals, aromatic radicals such as phenyl, biphenyl, phenoxyphenyl and naphthyl radicals as well as halogenated and other substituted aromatic radicals, aralkyl radicals such as benzyl and phenylethyl radicals, alkylaryl radicals such as tolyl and xylyl radicals, cycloaliphatic radicals such as cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, cyclopentenyl, cyclohexyl and cyclohexenyl radicals and heterocyclic radicals such as furfuryl radicals.

The organopolysiloxanes may be linear, branched or both linear and branched and the X radicals may be terminal end groups or may be situated at other sites in the polysiloxane chain. The number of X radicals may range from one radical per polysiloxane molecule up to 30 weight percent of the total organopolysiloxane molecular weight.

The polysiloxane may be predominantly a monoorganopolysiloxane, a diorganopolysiloxane, a copolymer containing monoorganosiloxane units and diorganosiloxane units, a copolymer containing triorganosiloxane units and SiO.sub.2 units and the like. Notwithstanding the predominant structure, the organopolysiloxane may contain varying amounts of the other structural units in addition to hydroxyl radicals or radicals hydrolyzable thereto.

The polysiloxanes suitable for use in the practice of the present invention are well known in the art and may be prepared by various procedures including controlled hydrolysis of appropriate precursors as well as ring opening polymerization of cyclic organopolysiloxanes.

The controlled hydrolysis and cohydrolysis of RSiX.sub.3, R.sub.2 SiX.sub.2, R.sub.3 SiX and SiX.sub.4, where X is a hydrolyzable radical as previously defined, yields organopolysiloxanes containing monoorganosiloxane, diorganosiloxane, triorganosiloxane and SiO.sub.2 units, respectively. The relative proportions of said units in the organopolysiloxane are determined by employing the appropriate ratios of hydrolyzable precursors. In order to be useful in the practice of the present invention, the resultant organopolysiloxane must be readily soluble or dispersible in organic solvents and contain residual hydroxyl or hydrolyzable radicals.

The polymerization of cyclic organopolysiloxanes provides another route to the preparation of organopolysiloxanes containing hydroxyl or hydrolyzable radicals which may be employed in the practice of the present invention. These and other methods of preparation are set forth in K.A. Andrianov, "Metalorganic Polymers", Interscience Publishers, New York, 1965, Chapter III, pages 109-275, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Polysiloxanes which are at an intermediate stage of polymerization in that they contain hydroxyl radicals which, upon application of heat, may undergo condensation to a more advanced stage of polymerization or in that they contain hydrolyzable groups which upon further hydrolysis may proceed to a more advanced stage of polymerization are suitable for use in the practice of the present invention if they have not been rendered insoluble in organic solvents.

The organopolysiloxanes may be fluids of low or high viscosity or even solids. The physical appearance of the polysiloxane is dependent upon the nature of the R and R' radicals, the presence of linear or branched structures as well as the molecular weight. Notwithstanding the physical appearance of the polysiloxane, the important requirement for utility in the practice of the present invention is the presence of hydroxyl radicals or radicals hydrolyzable thereto. Mixtures of such polysiloxanes are suitable for use in the present invention.

The hydrolyzable silanes suitable for use in the practice of the present invention have the formula:

where R is a monovalent hydrocarbon radical, X is a hydrolyzable group such as halogen, alkoxy, acyloxy, hydrogen and the like, and n is an integer from 0 to 2, inclusive. When X is an alkoxy group, OR', or an acyloxy group, OCOR', R' may be methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, secondary butyl, 2-ethylhexyl or other aliphatic hydrocarbon radical of less than 10 carbon atoms. Preferably R' is a lower alkyl radical of no more than 4 carbon atoms. All of the X's may be the same or they may be different. The hydrocarbon radical R may be cyclic or acyclic, saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic or aromatic and include the alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, aralkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl and heterocyclic radicals such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, secondary butyl, tertiary butyl, amyl, hexyl, vinyl, allyl, chloroallyl, methallyl, crotyl, butadienyl, phenyl, dichlorophenyl, pentachlorophenyl, xylyl, benzyl, styryl, cinnamyl, furfuryl, cyclohexyl, cyclopentadienyl, cyclopentenyl, pyridyl, etc. radicals. The hydrocarbon R may also be a substituted alkyl R"(CH.sub.2).sub.x where x is an integer from 1 to 20 inclusive and R" is a polar and/or reactive functionality such as acryloxy, methacryloxy, glycidoxy, epoxycyclohexyl, mercapto, amino, ureido, halo, etc. radicals. There are numerous commercial materials of this type which are commonly known as organofunctional silane coupling agents or adhesion promoters.

The monomeric hydrolyzable silanes may be subjected to partial hydrolysis to promote the formation of condensation products which are still hydrolyzable silanes and are suitable for use in the practice of the present invention.

The organopolysiloxanes containing pendant or terminal hydrolyzable silane radicals, suitable for use in the practice of the present invention, have the formula:

where P is an organopolysiloxane as hereinafter defined, X is a hydrolyzable group such as halogen, alkoxy, acyloxy, hydrogen, and the like, n is an integer from 2 to 3 and m is an integer from 1 to 20. When X is an alkoxy group OR' or an acyloxy group OCOR', R' may be methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, secondary butyl, 2-ethylhexyl or other aliphatic hydrocarbon radical of less than 10 carbon atoms. Preferably, R' is a lower alkyl radical of no more than 4 carbon atoms. All the X's may be the same or they may be different.

The organopolysiloxanes are well known in the art and contain the structural unit: ##STR2## where R'" and R"" are oxygen (i.e., the group--O--) or nonhydrolyzable hydrocarbon, substituted hydrocarbon or heterocyclic radicals and are the same or different. When R'" and R'" are hydrocarbon radicals, they may be acyclic or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated and include aliphatic radicals such as methyl, ethyl, vinyl, propyl, allyl, butyl, crotyl, hexyl, decyl, dodecyl, hexadecyl, octadecyl, octadecenyl radicals and the like as well as halogenated or other substituted aliphatic radicals, aromatic radicals such as phenyl, biphenyl, phenoxyphenyl and naphthyl radicals as well as halogenated and other substituted aromatic radicals, aralkyl radicals such as benzyl and phenylethyl radicals, alkylaryl radicals such as tolyl and xylyl radicals, cycloaliphatic radicals such as cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, cyclopentenyl, cyclohexyl and cyclohexenyl radicals and heterocyclic radicals such as furfuryl radicals.

The organopolysiloxanes may be linear, branched or both linear and branched. The polysiloxane may be predominantly a monoorganopolysiloxane, a diorganopolysiloxane, a copolymer containing monoorganosiloxane units and diorganosiloxane units, a copolymer containing triorganosiloxane units and SiO.sub.2 units and the like. Notwithstanding the predominant structure, the organopolysiloxane may contain varying amounts of other structural units, in addition to hydrolyzable silane radicals.

The polysiloxanes containing hydrolyzable silane radicals, suitable for use in the practice of the present invention, may be prepared from organopolysiloxanes which are well known in the art. The latter may be prepared by various procedures including controlled hydrolysis of appropriate precursors as well as ring opening polymerization of cyclic organopolysiloxanes.

The controlled hydrolysis and cohydrolysis of RSiX.sub.3, R.sub.2 SiX.sub.2, R.sub.3 SiX and SiX.sub.4, where X is a hydrolyzable radical as previously defined, yields organopolysiloxanes containing monoorganosiloxane, diorganosiloxane, triorganosiloxane and SiO.sub.2 units, respectively. The relative proportions of said units in the organopolysiloxane are determined by employing the appropriate proportions of hydrolyzable precursors. In order to be useful in the preparation of polysiloxanes containing hydrolyzable silane radicals, the precursor organopolysiloxanes must be readily soluble or dispersible in organic solvents and contain residual reactive radicals such as hydroxyl, alkoxyl, acyloxyl, halogen, hydrogen, vinyl, allyl and the like.

The polymerization of cyclic organopolysiloxanes provides another route to the preparation of organopolysiloxanes containing reactive radicals which may be employed in the preparation of the organopolysiloxanes containing hydrolyzable silane radicals which are suitable for use in the practice of the present invention. These and other methods of preparation are set forth in K.A. Andrianov, "Metalorganic Polymers", Interscience Publishers, New York, 1965, Chapter III, pages 109-275, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Polysiloxanes which are at an intermediate stage of polymerization in that they contain hydroxyl radicals which, upon application of heat, may undergo condensation to a more advanced stage of polymerization or in that they contain hydrolyzable groups which upon further hydrolysis may proceed to a more advanced stage of polymerization, if they have not been rendered insoluble in organic solvents, are suitable precursors for the preparation of the organopolysiloxanes containing hydrolyzable silanes which may be used in the practice of the present invention.

The organopolysiloxanes containing hydrolyzable silanes may be prepared by reactions well known in the art. Thus, reaction of an organopolysiloxane containing hydroxyl groups with excess silicon tetraacetate yields the triacetoxysilane as shown by the following reaction: ##STR3## wherein P is as previously defined. Similarly, reaction with an alkyl or aryltriacetoxysilane yields the corresponding diacetoxysilane, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,035,016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. This reaction is shown below: ##STR4## wherein P and R'" are the same as previously defined.

The reaction of an organopolysiloxane containing SiH units, e.g., as prepared by hydrolysis and cohydrolysis of a dichlorosilane with an unsaturated trialkoxysilane or triacyloxysilane in the presence of chloroplatinic acid, yields an organopolysiloxane containing hydrolyzable radicals, suitable for use in the practice of the present invention as shown by the following reaction: ##STR5## wherein P and R'" are the same as previously defined.

Organopolysiloxanes containing vinyl unsaturation, e.g., as prepared by cohydrolysis of mixtures of various chlorosilanes including vinylalkylchlorosilanes, may be reacted with trialkoxysilane to yield organopolysiloxanes containing hydrolyzable silane radicals suitable for use in the present invention as shown by the following equation:

wherein P and R'" are the same as previously described.

Alternative methods of preparing organopolysiloxanes suitable for use in the practice of the present invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Notwithstanding the method of preparation, the presence of SiX.sub.2-3 radicals as pendant or terminal units in an organopolysiloxane renders it suitable for use in the present invention.

The organopolysiloxanes containing hydrolyzable silane radicals may be fluids of low or high viscosity or even solids. The physical appearance of the polysiloxane is dependent upon the nature of the R'" and R"" radicals, the presence of linear or branched structures as well as the molecular weight. Notwithstanding the physical appearance of the polysiloxane, the important requirement for utility in the practice of the present invention is the presence of hydrolyzable silane radicals. Mixtures of such polysiloxanes are suitable for use in the present invention.

While hydrolyzability is a general characteristic of the silanes which may be used in the practice of the present invention, the rate of hydrolysis is a function of the nature of the hydrocarbon substituent in the hydrolyzable group. Thus, the presence of methyl radicals results in rapid hydrolysis while higher alkyl radicals result in slower hydrolysis. In the latter case, it is possible to use water as a diluent or dispersing medium during the preparation and handling of the active compositions, and as the hydrolyzing reactant as the composition is applied or after it is applied to the substrate.

The hydrolyzable titanium compounds which are suitable for use in the practice of the present invention are the tetraesters, tetraanhydrides and tetraamides of orthotitanic acid.

The titanium tetraesters have the formula:

where R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical of less than about 20 carbon atoms and may be saturated or unsaturated and acyclic or cyclic. Thus, R may be methyl, ethyl, allyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, secondary butyl, tertiary butyl, 2-ethylhexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, octadecyl and the like. Titanium orthoesters where R is the same or mixed are suitable for use in the present invention. Partially hydrolyzed orthoesters may also be used if the hydrolysis has not rendered them insoluble in organic solvents and they still retain alkoxy groups.

The titanium tetraanhydrides have the formula:

where R' is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical of less than about 20 carbon atoms and may be saturated or unsaturated and acyclic or cyclic. Thus, R' may be methyl, ethyl, allyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, secondary butyl, tertiary butyl, 2-ethylhexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, octadecyl and the like. The anhydrides or acylates may also be prepared from aliphatic acids which contain more than one carboxyl group, such as maleic acid, fumaric acid, etc. Titanium acylates where R' is the same or mixed are suitable for use in the present invention. Mixed alkoxytitanium acylates are also useful. These are prepared by the reaction of a tetraester with an acid or anhydride or of a tetraanhydride with an alcohol under anhydrous conditions. Partially hydrolyzed acylates may also be used.

The titanium tetraamides have the formula: ##STR6## where R" is hydrogen, alkyl or aryl and R'" is alkyl or aryl. The alkyl groups may be saturated or unsaturated and acyclic or cyclic and include methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, amyl, octyl, stearyl, oleyl, etc. groups.

The titanium polymers prepared by partial hydrolysis of the monomeric titanium orthoesters, acylates and amides, per se or in admixture, as well as by partial hydrolysis of mixed orthoesters, acylates and amides may also be used in the practice of the present invention.

While hydrolyzability is a general characteristic of the tetraesters, tetraanhydrides and tetraamides of orthotitanic acid which may be used in the practice of the present invention, the rate of hydrolysis is a function of the nature of the hydrocarbon substituent. Thus, the presence of methyl, ethyl and other lower alkyl substituents results in rapid hydrolysis while higher alkyl substituents result in slower hydrolysis. In the latter case it is possible to use water as a diluent or dispersing medium during the preparation and handling of the active compositions, and as the hydrolyzing reactant as the composition is applied or after it is applied to the substrate.

An alternative approach to delayed hydrolysis is the use of an organic titanium chelate. The chelates which are suitable for use in the practice of the present invention are either water soluble or solvent soluble and hydrolyze slowly in aqueous systems per se or when the pH is changed or the temperature is raised.

The titanium chelates are derivatives of bi- or multifunctional compounds in which one of the functional groups is usually hydroxyl or enolic carbonyl and the other group is hydroxyl, carboxyl, carbonyl or amino. Thus, the titanium chelates are derivatives of glycols, hydroxy acids, dicarboxylic acids, diketones, ketoesters or alkanolamines. Representative chelates include chelates of 2-methylpentane-2,4-diol, 2-ethylexane- 1,3-diol, 2-methylpentane-1,3-diol, 2-propylheptane-1,3-diol, lactic acid, glycolic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, hydroxystearic acid, oxalic acid, acetylacetone, ethyl acetoacetate, diethanolamine, triethanolamine and the like.

The titanium chelates are generally prepared by the reaction of a titanium alkoxide such as tetraisopropyl titanate and the appropriate bi- or multifunctional compound. The preparation and properties of the titanium chelates are disclosed in Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2nd Edition, Volume 20, pages 464-468 (1969). The preparation of aqueous solutions of the titanium chelates is described in "Tyzor Organic Titanates", E. I. duPont de Nemours & Co., Organic Chemicals Department, Technical Bulletin D-5258. The disclosures of each of the hereinabove identified references are incorporated herein by reference.

The preferred compositions of the present invention contain organopolysiloxanes containing hydroxyl groups, hydrolyzable silanes and organic titanium compounds in weight ratios wherein the ratio of organopolysiloxanes to the sum of the silanes and titanium compounds is from 10/90 to 90/10 and the ratio of silanes to titanium compounds is from 10/90 to 90/10.

Insecticides which may be used in the practice of this invention include any of the compounds well known in the art for use as insecticides such as those set forth in Chemical Week, June 21, 1972, pages 39-64; Chemical Week, July 26, 1972, pages 19-41; and Commercial and Experimental Organic Insecticides (1974 Revision), Entomological Society of America, Special Publication 74-1, October 1974. Some common insecticides which may be used include the following:

The insecticides which may be used in the practice of this invention also include bacterial insecticides such as Bacillus popilliae and Bacillus thuringiensis and viral insecticides such as the Heliothis virus. These have been described in Chemical & Engineering News, 35, No. 30, 18 (July 28, 1975), the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The insecticide is included in the composition in an amount sufficient to exert and insecticidal action on the immediate environment surrounding the substrate. The amount of insecticide will be dependent upon several factors such as the composition and thickness of the cured polymeric matrix, the nature of the insecticide, i.e., liquid or solid, the presence of active hydrogen functionality, the duration of insecticidal action desired, etc. The optimum amount of insecticide to be included may readily be determined by those skilled in the art. Generally, from about 1 part by weight of insecticide to 0.5 to 1000 parts of the combined weight of polysiloxane, silane and titanium compound is satisfactory.

The compositions of this invention may include volatile diluents such as aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons, e.g., Stoddard Solvent, mineral spirits, B&P naphtha, cyclohexane, petroleum ether, benzene, toluene, xylene, etc., halogenated hydrocarbons such as perchloroethylene and fluorocarbons or volatile fluid polysiloxanes such as dimethylpolysiloxane fluids. The compositions may be prepared by merely admixing th various components. Before admixing, the components may be dispersed or dissolved in a diluent such as previously described. The compositions may also be prepared in aqueous media when slowly hydrolyzing and/or stable components are present.

The compositions of this invention may be applied to a large number of substrates, The substrate should be one which contains active hydrogen atoms which provide sites for coupling with the silicon-titanium compound system, e.g., hydroxyl groups, amino groups, etc. Thus, various plants such as ornamental bushes, trees, flowers, greenhouse plants, lawns, crops (e.g., wheat, corn, soy beans, barley, oats, cotton, jute, sisle), fruits, vegetables, berry bushes, nut trees, olive trees, fig trees, grape vines; various animals such as household pets (e.g., cats, dogs), farm animal such as dairy cattle, beef cattle, horses, sheep, chickens, turkeys, swine, goats, zoo animals, etc. Non-plant and animals uses include spraying surfaces of structures such as buildings and various rooms in buildings, such as kitchens, bathrooms, closets including wood or plaster board walls and floor tile to protect against roaches, termites, flying insects, rug insects, ants, etc. Various containers such as bags and cardboard or wooden boxes may also serve as substrates in accordance with the practice of this invention.

The compositions of this invention may be applied to the substrate by brushing, spraying, dipping or any other known technique for applying a fluid composition to a solid substrate. It may be applied in the form of an aerosol mist or fog, propelled by conventional pressurized volatile halohydrocarbon, hydrocarbon or compressed gas propellants, an air propelled mist blower, a fog generator, or other suitable means.

Although this invention should not be limited thereby, it i believed that upon application of the compositions of this invention to a suitable substrate in an ambient atmosphere, evaporation of the volatile diluent, if any is present, and exposure to atmospheric moisture results in the hydrolysis of both the hydrolyzable titanium compound and the hydrolyzable silane, followed by condensation of the Ti(OH).sub.x and Si(OH).sub.y groups generated thereby with each other and with the SiOH groups present or generated by hydrolysis on the organopoly siloxane to form a crosslinked polymetalloxane matrix containing entrapped or occluded insecticide. Simultaneously, the Ti(OH).sub.x and Si(OH).sub.y groups promote the adhesion of the polymeric matrix and the insecticide entrapped or occluded therein to the substrate. Adhesion to the substrate is due at least in part to the fact that the polymetalloxane matrix is coupled to the substrate by reaction through active hydrogen atoms on the substrate. In this manner, the insecticide is held on the substrate to such an extent that it cannot be physically brushed off, blown off or washed off by rain. Further, as a result of its entrapped condition the rapid evaporation, sublimation or extraction of the insecticide is retarded. However, due to the permeability of the organopolymetalloxane to organic compounds, said evaporation or sublimation is not completely inhibited, resulting in controlled release of the insecticide.

When water is present in the compositions of this invention, said water is generally added shortly before application of the composition to a suitable substrate, and hydrolysis of the titanium compound and the silane may begin before or during application to said substrate. However, hydrolysis continues after said application and is followed by condensation of the TiOH groups generated thereby with the SiOH groups present or generated by hydrolysis on the organopolysiloxane and on the organosilane.

When a water stable titanium compound, e.g., an organic titanium chelate such as the lactic acid chelate or the triethanolamine chelate, is present, the aqueous composition may be prepared before application to the substrate. However, an acid or acid-generating compound is added to the aqueous composition shortly before application to the substrate. The resultant lowering of the pH promotes hydrolysis of the titanium compound and the silane, which may begin before or during application to the substrate. However, hydrolysis continues after said application and is followed by condensation of the TiOH groups generated thereby with the SiOH groups on the organopolysiloxane as well as those generated on the organosilane.

The rate of release of the insecticide may be controlled by adjusting the extent of crosslinking, e.g., by adjusting the polysiloxane/silane/titanium ratio, the thickness of the polymetalloxane coating, e.g., by adjusting the composition and the concentration of reactive components in the solution thereof, or by adding a non-volatile, non-reactive extender for the crosslinked polysiloxane. The latter acts in a manner analogous to the behavior of the hydrocarbon oil in a vulcanized oil-extended hydrocarbon rubber. The extender may be a compatible non-siloxane compound, e.g., a hydrocarbon oil, or may be an alkyl or arylpolysiloxane fluid having a viscosity ranging from 5 to 100,000 centistokes at 25.degree. C.

In addition to or in lieu of the solvents which function to reduce the viscosity of the compositions of this invention as well as control the thickness of the polysiloxane coating, volatile alcohols such as ethanol, isopropanol, butanol and the like may be included in the composition to prevent premature hydrolysis of the hydrolyzable crosslinking agent with resultant gelation and precipitation.

Other additives which may be incorporated into the compositions of this invention include stabilizers against environmental degradation, such as antioxidants and ultraviolet stabilizers, odor masking compounds and perfumes, dyes, pigments, fillers, etc.

The following examples illustrate the best modes for carrying out this invention. Examples I to III and V illustrate the improved adhesion of the compositions of this invention to a substrate. Example IV illustrates the preparation of a hydrolyzable silane. In the tables in the examples, the numbers refer to the amount of materials in parts by weight.

Solutions containing 50 weight-% of one or more of the following components were prepared in anhydrous isooctane: (a) tetraisopropyl titanate (TPT), (b) a linear dimethylpolysiloxane fluid containing 3 weight-% hydroxyl groups and having a viscosity of 80 centistokes at 25.degree. C., designated as Fl-3563 by the Dow Corning Corp., (c) methyltriethoxysilane, designated as A- 162 by Union Carbide Corp., and (d) a dimethylpolysiloxane fluid, designated as DC-200 fluid by the Dow Corning Corp., having a viscosity of 1000 centistokes at 25.degree. C. (DC-200/1000 ).

The 50% solution was diluted to 10 weight-% with isooctane and 10-20 drops were placed on a weighed glass slide. A glass rod was rolled over the solution to spread the material uniformly over the lower four fifths of the slide. The coated slide was air dried for 4 hours and then placed in a 50% relative humidity chamber for 18 hours. The slide was then weighed to determine the weight of the coating which ranged from 2-5 mg. covering an area of 15 sq. cm. The coated slide was inserted into a slit rubber stoppr and mounted over the center of a Waring Blender. The coated slide faced the moving water which completely covered the coating. The blender was operated at its highest speed for 5 minutes. The slide was air dried overnight and then weighed to determine the amount of coating retained on the slide after the treatment in the Blender. The average results of duplicate tests are summarized in Table 1.

The volatility and slow rate of hydrolysis of the alkoxysilane results in poor adhesion and retention. The presence of the higher viscosity polysiloxane fluid reduces the volatility and increases the retention. The titanate catalyzes the hydrolysis of the silane as well as the silane-silanol interaction resulting in improved retention and adhesion.

The 50% solutions of titanate, silane, silanol and/or polysiloxane fluid in isooctane were mixed with a pyrethroid composition, as follows:

0.1 g. pyrethroids

0.5 g. piperonyl butoxide

0.4 g. petroleum distillate

5.0 g. 50% solution of TpT, A-162, Fl-3563, and/or DC-200/1000 in isooctane

The pyrethroids-containing solutions were diluted to 10 weight-% with isooctane and coated on glass slides. The coated slides were dried, moisture cured and subjected to treatment with water in the Waring Blender, as described earlier. The amount of retained coating is summarized in Table 2, where the amount of pyrethroids indicated actually represents the sum of the pyrethroids and piperonyl butoxide.

The improved adhesion and retention of the pyrethroid compositions due to the presence of the titanate is clearly shown.

Solutions containing 50 weight-% of one or more of the following components were prepared in anhydrous isooctane: (a) tetraisopropyl titanate (TPT), (b) tetraethyl orthosilicate (ES-100), (c) a linear dimethylpolysiloxane fluid containing 3 weight-% hydroxyl groups designated as Fl-3563, and (d) a dimethylpolysiloxane DC-200 fluid having a viscosity of 1000 centistokes at 25.degree. C. (DC-200/1000 1000

The solutions were diluted, coated on glass slides, dried, moisture cured at 50% relative humidity for 18 hours and subjected to treatment with water in the Waring Blender, as described in Example I. The results are summarized in Table 3.

The good retention obtained as a result of the silicatesilanol interaction is lost in the presence of the polysiloxane fluid. However, in the presence of the titanate good retention is obtained in both cases.

Solutions containing 50 weight-% of one or more of the followng components were prepared in anhydrous isooctane: (a) tetraisopropyl titanate (TPT), (b) a methylmethoxypolysiloxane fluid copolymer containing 30 weight-% methoxy groups and having a viscosity of 40 centistokes at 25.degree. C., designated as F4-3597 by the Dow Corning Corp., (c) tetraethyl orthosilicate (ES-100) and (d) a dimethylpolysiloxane fluid (DC-200/1000 ).

The solutions were diluted, coated on glass slides, dried, moisture cured at 50% relative humidity for 18 hours and subjected to treatment with water in the Waring Blender, as described in Example I. The results are summarized in Table 4.

The presence of the titanate improves the adhesion and retention of the moisture-curable silicate-methoxysilane composition. Similar results were obtained when pyrethroids were present.

A 250 ml. 3-necked flask equipped with a stirrer, thermometer, dropping funnel, condenser and nitrogen inlet was charged under nitrogen with 160 g. (0.07 mole) of a methylhydrogenpolysiloxane, containing 35 methylhydrogensiloxy units and 2 trimethylsiloxy terminal units, and 0.27 g. chloroplatinic acid. A total of 53.9 g. (0.28 mole) of vinyltriethoxysilane was added over a period of 1 hour to the reaction mixture which had been heated to 80.degree. C. The temperature rose and was maintained at 110.degree. C. for an additional hour. The reaction mixture was cooled to 25.degree. C. and filtered under nitrogen to remove the black catalyst particles. The filtrate was kept at 25 .degree. C. at 0.1 mm. pressure for 20 hours to remove residual vinyltriethoxysilane. The poduct was obtained in a yield of 92% and was analyzed for ethoxy content by acetylation and hydrolysis, in accordance with the procedure of A. L. Smith, "Analysis of Silicones", Wiley-Interscience, 1974, p. 154. The triethoxysilylethylated methylhydrogenpolysiloxane had an ethoxy content of 14.3 weight-%.

Solutions containing 50 weight-% of one or more of the following components were prepared in anhydrous isooctane: (a) tetraisopropyl titanate (TPT), (b) the triethoxysilylethylated methylhydrogenpolysiloxane (TESEPS) containing 14 weight-% ethoxy groups, of Example IV, (C) a linear dimethylpolysiloxane fluid containing 3 weight-% hydroxyl groups, designated as Fl-3563, and (d) a dimethylpolysiloxane fluid having a viscosity of 1000 centistokes at 25.degree. C. (DC-200/1000 ).

The solutions were diluted, coated on glass slides, dried, moisture cured at 50% relative humidity for 18 hours and subjected to treatment with water in the Waring Blender, as described in Example I. The results are summarized in Table 5.

The influence of the titanate in achieving high adhesion and retention values, even in the presence of the polysiloxane fluie, is quite evident from the table.

The 50% solutions of titanate, triethoxysilylethylated polysiloxane, silanol and/or polysiloxane fluid were mixed with a pyrethroids composition as follows:

0.1 g. pyrethroids

0.5 g. piperonyl butoxide

0.4 g. petroleum distillate

5.0 g. 50% solution of TPT, TESEPS, Fl-3563, and/or DC-200/1000 in isooctane

The pyrethroids-containing solutions were diluted to 10 weight-% with isooctane and coated on glass slides. The coated slides were dried, moisture cured and subjected to treatment with water in the Waring Blender, as earlier described. The amount of retained coating is summarized in Table 6 were the amount of pyrethroids indicated actually represents the sum of the pyrethroids and piperonyl butoxide.

Although the presence of the pyrethroids greatly reduces the retention of the polymeric matrix, the presence of the titanate results in good adhesion and retention.

A solution containing 50 weight-% non-volatiles was prepared as follows:

10 g. mixed tetraisopropyl and tetrastearyl titanates (Tyzor AP. E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co.)

7.5 g. methyltriethoxysilane A-162

7.5 g. dimethylpolysiloxane Fl- 3563 (3 wt-% OH)

5.0 g. DC-200/1000 dimethylpolysiloxane fluid

30 g. perchloroethylene

The 50% solution was mixed with a pyrethroid composition to yield ans insecticide-containing solution which was compared with an additive-free pyrethroid composition for insecticidal behavior. The components of the test composition were as follows:

A disposable plastic syringe was used to place the test solution on a 4.times. 4 inch glass panel. The solution was uniformly spread over the panel with the tip of the syringe. The treated panels were conditioned for 24 hours in a chamber at 78.degree. F. and 42% relative humidity. Ten adult male German cockroaches, Blatella germanica (Linnaeus), were exposed to the 1 day residue for 24 hours under a 100.times. 15 mm. petri dish. The test was conducted in duplicate. The same treated panels were reexposed to cockroaches after 3, 7 and 10 days.

The percent mortality of cockroaches exposed to the treated glass panels is summarized below.

Although the residue from the control insecticide solution VIB killed only 15% of the exposed cockroaches after 7 days, the residue from insecticide solution VIA, containing the titanate-alkoxysilane-hydroxyl-containing polysiloxane-polysiloxane fluid composition killed 65% of the exposed cockroaches after 7 days and 45% after 10 days.

A solution containing 50 weight-% non-volatiles was prepared as follows:

10 g. tetraisopropyl titanate (TPT)

10 g. tetraethyl orthosilicate (ES-100 )

10 g. methylmethoxypolysiloxane copolymer - F4-3597 (30 wt-% OCH.sub.3)

30 g. perchloroethylene

The titanate-silicate-polysiloxane solution was mixed with 1-naphthyl N-methylcarbamate (Carbaryl) to yield an insecticide-containing solution which was compared with an additive-free Carbaryl composition for insecticidal behavior. The components of the test compositions were as follows:

The test compositions were applied to upper and lower leaf surfaces of potted lima bean plants with a DeVilbiss atomizer from a distance of 30.5 millimeters. There were two plants per pot, ith leaves approximately 50-60 mm. wide and 70-80 mm. long. A 3.2 ml. application was sprayed evenly over the two potted plants at 3 psi pressure. The treated plants were kept in a chamber at 80.degree. F. and 55% relative humidity. After 12 days the treated plants were sprayed with one-half inch of tap water from a hose end sprayette #4 nozzle held at a distance of 18 inches for a period of 5-10 minutes. Two leaves were removed from the sprayed potted plants and exposed to Southern army worm larvae (late thrid instar) on the 14th day for 48 hours.

The leaves which had been sprayed with insecticide solution VIIA, containing the titanate-silicate-polysiloxane composition, killed 100% of the larvae while the leaves which had been treated with the control insecticide solution VIIB were ineffective and there was 0% mortality of the exposed larvae.

When the leaves of the treated and water-sprayed plants were exposed to Mexican bean beetle larvae (late second instar), the results were the same, i.e., the leaves sprayed with insecticide solution VIIA killed 100% of the exposed larvae while the leaves which had been sprayed with the control insecticide solution VIIB killed 0% of the exposed larvae.

The titanate-silicate-polysiloxane solution of Example VII was mixed with Carbaryl to yield an insecticide solution which was compared with an additive-free Carbaryl composition. The components of the test compositions were as follows:

The insecticidal properties of solutions VIIIA and VIIIB were Southern using southern army worm larvae and Mexican bean beetle larvae as the test species in separate tests and potted lima bean plants as the test substrate, as described in Example VII. The treated plants were sprayed with water after 12 days and exposed to the larvae after 14 days.

The leaves which had been treated with insecticide solution VIIIA, containing the titanate-silicate-polysiloxane composition, killed 100% of both the Southern army worm larvae and the Mexican bean bettle larvae, while th leaves which had been treated with the control insecticide solution VIIIB killed none of either of the exposed larvae.

The titanate-silicate-polysiloxane solution of Example VII was mixed with S-(1,2-dicarbethoxyethyl) 0,0-dimethyldithiophosphate (Malathion) to yield an insecticide solution which was compared with an additive-free Malathion composition. The components of the test compositions were as follows:

The insecticidal properties of solutions IXA ad IXB were evaluated using Southern army worm larvae on potted lima bean plants, as described in Example VII. After 7 days two leaves were removed from the treated potted plants and exposed to the larvae for 48 hours. After 12 days the potted treated plants were sprayed with water, as described in Example VII, and two leaves were removed on the 14th day and exposed to the larvae for 48 hours.

The percent mortality of larvae exposed to the treated leaves was as follows:

When the leaves of the treated and water-sprayed plants were exposed to Mexican bean beetle larvae, the leaves treated with insecticide solution IXA killed 75% of the exposed larvae while the leaves which had been treated with the control insecticide solution IXB killed only 40% of the exposed larvae.

The titanate-silicate-polysiloxane solution of Example VII was mixed with Malathion to yield an insecticide solution which was compared with an additive-free Malathion composition. The components of the test compositions were as follows:

The insecticidal properties of solution XA and XB were evaluated using Mexican bean beetles on potted lima bean plants, as described in Example VII. After 12 days the plants were sprayed with water and on the 14th day the leaves were exposed to the larvae for 48 hours.

The leaves which had been treated with insecticide solution XA, containing the titanate-silicate-polysiloxane composition, killed 75% of the exposed larvae while the leaves which had been treated with the control insecticide solution XB were ineffective and there was 0% mortality of the exposed larvae.