Netting, crop cover, and ground cover materials

Abstract

The invention relates to crop netting materials, crop cover materials, and ground cover materials that transmit solar radiation in the visible wavelength range of about 420 to 720 nm at a level similar to the level that the materials transmit solar radiation in the infra red wavelength ranges of about 700 to about 1000 nm and 1500 to about 1600 nm. The materials also absorb solar radiation in the UV wavelength range of about 300 to about 380 nm.

1 - 101 . (canceled) 
     
     
         102 . A ground cover material which is woven, or non-woven, from a synthetic monofilament, multifilament yarn, or tape or combination thereof, formed from a resin comprising at least one pigment such that the monofilament, multifilament yarn, or tape:
 across a UV wavelength range about 300 to about 380 nm:
 absorbs at least about 55% solar radiation on average, and 
 transmits less than about 20% solar radiation on average; and 
 reflects at least about 20% solar radiation on average; 
   across a visible wavelength range about 420 to about 700 nm:
 transmits less than about 40% solar radiation on average, and 
 reflects at least about 10% of solar radiation on average; 
   across an infrared wavelength range about 700 to about 1000 nm: transmits between about 10% and about 50% of solar radiation on average; and   across an infrared wavelength range of 1500 to 1600 nm: transmits at least about 10% to about 60% solar radiation on average.   
     
     
         103 . The ground cover material according to  claim 102 , wherein the resin comprises a microvoiding pigment and a UV absorbing substance. 
     
     
         104 . The ground cover material according to  claim 103  wherein the microvoiding pigment comprises barium sulphate, calcium carbonate, magnesium zirconate, calcium zirconate, strontium zirconate, barium zirconate, zirconium silicate, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         105 . The ground cover material according to  claim 103  wherein the UV absorbing substance is an inorganic pigment or an organic pigment. 
     
     
         106 . The ground cover material according to  claim 103  wherein the UV absorbing substance is selected from the group consisting of barium titanate, magnesium titanate, strontium titanate, neodymium titanate, tin oxide, titanium oxide, titanium dioxide, silica, alumina, zinc oxide, zinc sulphide, zinc sulphate, zirconium silicate, magnesium oxide, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         107 . The ground cover material according to  claim 106  wherein the wherein the UV absorbing substance is pigmentary titanium dioxide having a particle size of about 0.20 μm to about 0.40 μm. 
     
     
         108 . The ground cover material according to  claim 106  wherein the UV absorbing substance is titanium dioxide and has an average particle size of at least 0.5 μm. 
     
     
         109 . The ground cover material according to  claim 103  wherein the UV absorbing substance is titanium dioxide has an average particle size from about 0.7 μm to about 1.8 μm. 
     
     
         110 . The ground cover material according to  claim 103  wherein the UV absorbing substance is titanium dioxide is substantially in the rutile form. 
     
     
         111 . The ground cover material according to  claim 103  wherein said UV absorbing substance is comprises coated or doped titanium dioxide. 
     
     
         112 . The ground cover material according to  claim 106  wherein said titanium dioxide comprises nickel antimony titanate or chromium antimony titanate. 
     
     
         113 . The ground cover material according to  claim 106  wherein said titanium dioxide comprises coated titanium dioxide, wherein said titanium dioxide is coated with a coating comprising silica, alumina, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         114 . The ground cover material according to  claim 103  comprising a pigment selected from the group consisting of barium titanate, magnesium titanate, strontium titanate, neodymium titanate, tin oxide, titanium oxide, titanium dioxide, silica, alumina, zinc oxide, zinc sulphide, zinc sulphate, zirconium silicate, magnesium oxide, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         115 . The ground cover material according to  claim 103  comprising microvoids in the material. 
     
     
         116 . The ground cover material according to  claim 115  wherein said microvoids have been formed by stretching said synthetic monofilament, yarn, or tape from which the netting material is formed or stretching a film material from which said tape has been cut. 
     
     
         117 . The ground cover material according to  claim 116  wherein the microvoiding pigment forms microvoids when monofilament, yarn, or tape from which the netting material is formed or a film material from which tape is cut is stretched. 
     
     
         118 . The ground cover material according to  claim 117  wherein the microvoiding pigment is a white pigment. 
     
     
         119 . The ground cover material according to  claim 103  formed from a resin comprising at least 1% by weight of microvoiding and titanium dioxide pigments. 
     
     
         120 . The ground cover material according to  claim 103 , wherein the resin comprises at least one microvoiding pigment and particulate material in substantially rutile form. 
     
     
         121 . The ground cover material according to  claim 103  wherein microvoids have been formed by mono-axial or bi-axial stretching of the synthetic monofilament, multifilament yarn, or tape.