Erosion control system and method of manufacturing same

Abstract

An erosion control system is provided which generally includes a flexible composite blanket or matting including a core layer formed of rice straw. In addition, the present invention provides a green pigmented rice straw fiber blanket and methods for making same.

1 . An erosion control system comprising: 
 a matting element useful for controlling erosion on a surface, the matting element including 
 a fibrous material comprising rice straw fibers, and  
 a pigment composition deposited on at least a portion of the fibrous material;  
 the pigment composition comprising a pigment component effective to impart a color to the rice straw fibers, and a binder component effective to maintain the imparted color of the rice straw fibers for an increased period of time during use of the system relative to an identical system without the binder component.  
   
   
   
       2 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the fibrous material comprises substantially entirely rice straw fibers.  
   
   
       3 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the fibrous material consists essentially of rice straw fibers.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the pigment composition is derived from an aqueous composition comprising the pigment component, the binder component and an effective amount of a surfactant.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the pigment component comprises a latex polymer.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the pigment component comprises a green pigment.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the binder component comprises a polymeric material.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the binder component comprises a food-grade binder.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a reinforcement element for maintaining structural integrity of the matting element during installation of the system.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the reinforcement element comprises a netting element located on at least one major surface of the fibrous material.  
   
   
       11 . A method of manufacturing an erosion control system, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a matting element comprising rice straw fibers; and    contacting at least a portion of the matting element with an aqueous composition comprising a pigment component effective to impart a color to the rice straw fibers, and a binder component in an amount effective to maintain the imparted color of the rice straw fibers for an increased period of time during use of the system relative to an identical system without the binder component.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the aqueous composition further comprises an effective amount of a surfactant.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the binder component comprises a food-grade binder.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the pigment component comprises a green pigment.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of providing a matting element comprises pulling rice straw fibers from a bulk bale of rice straw and discharging the pulled fibers onto a conveyor mechanism.  
   
   
       16 . An erosion control system comprising: 
 a matting element useful for controlling erosion on a surface, the matting element including a fibrous material formed substantially entirely of rice straw fibers;    wherein the matting element has at least one of increased aerial density, increased flexibility, increased functional longevity, and higher silica content relative to an identical matting element including wheat straw fibers in place of rice straw fibers.    
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the matting element includes a reinforcement member located on at least one major surface of the fibrous material.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the fibrous material consists essentially of rice straw fibers.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the reinforcement member comprises a netting member.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the step of pulling rice straw fibers comprises utilizing a rotating blade mechanism to loosen and separate rice straw fibers prior to discharging the rice straw fibers onto the conveyor mechanism.