Many fertilizers are hygroscopic and absorb moisture from their surroundings. In some cases, such as ammonium nitrate and calcium nitrate, this occurs to such an extent that storage and transport are only possible when a moisture repellent coating is applied. Without this, moisture absorption can lead to caking, lumping and dust formation.
An effective way to prevent these issues is by applying a C-Force® moisture repellent coating. This coating forms a protective layer around fertilizer granules and prevents the granules from taking up moisture. As a result, fertilizer granules remain more stable and easier to handle during storage, transport and application.
Specific applications per fertilizer
Ammonium nitrate
The C-Force® FMR series has been especially designed for strong anticaking and moisture repellent behaviour. These coatings ensure that the product remains stable under a wide range of conditions.
Calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN)
For calcium ammonium nitrate, certain products from the C-Force® FMR series can be used in combination with talcum powder when the caking tendency of the material requires this. The products will give a good moisture repellent performance and will efficiently bind dust and talcum powder to the granules.
Urea-ammonium sulfate
This fertilizer combination is prone to absorb moisture whilst being stored and transported. Conventional moisture repellent coatings will not help as they will be consumed as a consequence of clathrate formation with urea from the fertilizer. INSTRAL can provide coatings that have especially been developed for this fertilizer combination. These prevent moisture pick-up and issues as excessive dust formation and stalactites in the bulk pile.
The benefits of C-Force® moisture repellent coatings
The main advantages of C-Force® coatings include:
- Reduced caking and lumping of fertilizers
- Lower moisture uptake, even under challenging conditions
- Depressed dust liberation during handling
- Obtaining a slow-release action of the fertilizer salts in the soil
- The possibility to color or mark fertilizers
Optimize the production process
Although coatings are an effective solution to limit moisture uptake and caking, some of these issues can already be addressed during the production process. By using “inside-out” additives, the sensitivity of fertilizers to moisture is reduced even before a coating is applied.
With the development of bio-based additives, new opportunities become available to meet both quality and environmental standards, with coatings being used only as a last resort.
Frequently asked questions
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What are moisture repellent coatings and how do they work?
The primary functions of a coating are to form a protective layer around the particles and therefore reduce the interaction between them, prevent them from taking up moisture or to dissolve in water, to reduce abrasion, or to bind dust. This ensures that fertilizer granules remain more stable and easier to handle during storage, transport and application.
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How do slow-release coatings extend nutrient availability?
Controlled release fertilizers (CRF) are coated with a thin polymer layer which allows nutrients to be released in a very timely and targeted way to various crops. This type of fertilizer is typically used in closed environments such as potted plants or greenhouses. As a result, nutrients (such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) are released to the plants in a more targeted way, with less losses to air or water.
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Are there bio-based coatings for fertilizers?
Absolutely. BIO-Force additives improve the quality of the particles significantly, reducing the need for coating to prevent caking, dusting or lumping. This creates opportunities to phase out non-biodegradable coatings and replace them with our BIO-Force fertilizer coatings.
Prevent moisture problems in your fertilizers
Do you want to prevent caking, dust formation, and quality loss with the right moisture repellent coating? INSTRAL helps you select the right solution, tailored to your product and process - ensuring a solution that works in practice.
