Method for enhanced supercooling of plants to provide frost protection
US6235683A · kind A · utility
8Cited by
30References
23Claims
0Family size
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 30, 1999 |
| Grant date | May 22, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 30, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02A50/30
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method for enhancing supercooling of a plant to temperatures below about -2.degree. C., involving preventing the formation of ice crystals adjacent the plant by forming a substantially continuous hydrophobic membrane of particulate materials on portions of the plant capable of supporting droplets of water, the particulate material having a particle size distribution wherein up to about 90% by weight of the particles have a particle size of about 100 .mu.m or less, and the substantially continuous hydrophobic membrane has a thickness from about 1 .mu.m to about 1,000 .mu.m.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.