Patent ID: 6360478
Filing Date: 2002-03-26
Classification: C09K,Y02A

Abstract:
A mulch product mixable with water to from a hydro-mulch suitable for spray application to soil to form an open, mechanically-bonded mulch on the surface of soil to which said hydro-mulch is applied, said mulch product comprising:a) up to 97% of mulch ingredients comprising a)i) from 0 to 99.5% by weight natural fibers which are substantially non-crimped; b)ii) up to 15 weight percent of flaked mulch product comprising paper flakes, or lignocellulosic flakes comprising a paper component and at least one other lignocellulosic component, said lignocellulosic flakes prepared by flaking pellets formed of said paper component and said lignocellulosic component; and b) from 0.5% to 100% of a permanently crimped natural fiber, said permanently crimped natural fiber being imparted with a water resistant permanent crimp by one or more of b)i) crimping a natural fiber precursor exposed to a temperature high enough and for sufficient time, optionally in the presence of moisture, to induce a permanent crimp in said natural fiber; or b)ii) crimping a natural fiber precursor coated and/or impregnated with a thermosettable synthetic resin, said crimping taking place prior to or after coating and/or impregnating with said thermosettable synthetic resin, said crimping sufficient to produce crimped fibers which entangle with other mulch components, thereby decreasing erosion of a soil surface on which said hydro-mulch is applied as compared to an otherwise similar mulch not containing said crimped natural fibers.