Patent GB-899936-A (GB)
Title: Plant growth medium
IPC: A01G31/00
Filed: 1960-02-05
Abstract: In a plant growth medium consisting of or containing at least one synthetic or natural polymer in the form of a sponge or foam which contains in part open pores or cavities and also a supply of plant nutrients in a slowly available form (see Group I), the polymers are preferably polyurethanes, rubber and polyvinyl compounds.  These may be expanded by the methods described in Group V.  Specified polymers are those obtained by reacting polybutylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, hydrophilic mixed polypropylene-polyethylene glycol, diethylene glycol-adipic acid polyesters and caprolactone polyesters with toluene diisocyanate, 1-chloro-2, 4-phenylene diisocyanate, m-phenylene diisocyanate, p-phenylene diisocyanate, 4,41-methylene bis(phenylisocyanate) and 3,31-dimethoxy-4,41 biphenylene diisocyanate; and butadiene-styrene copolymer (70/30), and polyvinyl chloride.  Cross-linking agents such as ethylene glycol and di- and triethylene glycol may be added.ALSO:A plant growth medium consists of or contains at least one synthetic or natural polymer in the form of a sponge or a foam which contains at least in part open pores or cavities and a supply of plant nutrients integrally contained in the polymer in a slowly available form.  The nutrients may be calcium, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur potassium, magnesium, boron, manganese, iron, zinc, molybdenum or copper and these may be in chemical combination with water-insoluble synthetic ion exchange resins such as those derived from phenol-formaldehyde, polystyrene, polyolefins, olefin-maleic acid anhydride copolymers, polyoxyalkylene and polyalkyleneimine compounds, The sponge or foam may be produced according to the methods described in Groups IV(a) and V.  Perlite may also be added.ALSO:In a plant growth medium consisting of or containing at least one synthetic or natural polymer in the form of a sponge or from which contains in part open pores or cavities and also a supply of plant nutrients in a slowly available form (see Group I) the formed materials are preferably derived from the polyurethanes, rubber, and polyvinyl compounds.  The polyurethane foam may be obtained by reacting polybutylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, hydrophilic mined polypropylene-polyethylene glycol, diethylene glycol-adipic acid polyesters and coporloctone polyesters with toluene diisocyanate, 1-chloro 24 phenylene diisocyanate, m-phenylene diisocyanate, p-phenylene diisocyanate, 441 methylene bis (phenylisocyanate), and 3, 31-dimethoxy- 4, 41 biphenylene diisocyanate and then heating to 50-120 DEG C. to form a liquid prepolymer and then adding nutrient charged resins and a water catalyst mixture and reheating to 70-100 DEG C. Alternatively the ester or ether and the diisocyanate are allowed to stand at room temperature and then the resins added and the mixture heated.  A sponge rubber foam is made from butadiene-styrene copolymer 70/30), carbon black, dioetyl phthalate, ammonium carbonate, sulphur, zinc oxide, mercaptobenzthiazole. stearic acid and nutrient charged ion exchange resins; and a polyvinyl chloride foam from a high molecular weight polyvinyl chloride resin (Sp. Gr. 1.40), di iso-octyl phthalate, dipropylene glycol dibenzrate, dibasic lead phthalate, 1.11-azobis (formanide) and nutrient ion exchange resins.