3 MOONS is an extended term surfactant formulation constructed of specialized triblock copolymers that when applied to soils susceptible to water repellency, will function to improve infiltration; enhance hydration and retention; promote uniform water distribution; and encourage better air-to-water ratios for up to 90 days. 3 MOONS soil surfactant is the result of applying leading edge polymer technologies to create longer acting surfactant multiphase systems capable of addressing a number of problems associated with water repellency.

Unlike many soil surfactants that utilize single surfactant technology or contain simple mixtures of different surfactants (polyblends), the 3 MOONS 90 Day Soil Surfactant formulation exploits the unique patterns of self-assembly associated with select triblock copolymers to obtain superior performance over a 90 day period.

The 3 MOONS triblock copolymers are capable of dynamically reconfiguring their polymer patterns between their nonaggregated state (linear arrangement) and a complex aggregated state (micelle arrangement).

Perhaps the most significant feature of these triblock copolymers is that they offer a predictive approach to dealing with surfactant self-assembly. The ability to forecast detailed features of surfactant aggregation opens up the opportunity to “tune” the 3 MOONS surfactant blend in order to optimize its performance characteristics. Using the triblock surfactants in the 3 MOONS surfactant, we create very unique a network of copolymers that provide adequate hydration, air: water ratios and uniform movement of water through the profile.

EXTENDED PERFORMANCE

The extended performance traits associated with the 3 MOONS product is not the result of the elimination of microbial and chemical degradation of its surfactant molecules. It is the result of an orchestrated number of delays in the degradation process associated with its triblock molecular constructions and other factors associated with its unique reversible self-assembly properties.

• The huge number of bonds with the megamolecular structure of the triblock surfactant (size of their polar “blocks”) delays the microbial process.
• Triblocks have covalent bonds between their “blocks” that are much more resistant to microbial or chemical cleavage. This extends the time required for dissociation of the molecular “blocks” to halt surfactant activity.
• Normally, methyl branching does not slow the degradation process. However, if many methyl branches appear in a row, they delay the degradation process. Triblock surfactants are characterized by extensive methy branching throughout their hydrocarbon-based “block(s).”
• Reversible self-assembly in soil solution such as found in triblock surfactants also delays degradation since the surfactants are not normally subject to microbial attack in the soil solution. This limits degradation exposure.