Preparation and properties of bamboo microcapsules as mildew-resistant agents

Microcapsules of iodopropynyl butylcarbamate (IPBC) for bamboo anti-mold were prepared by in-situ polymerization using melamine-urea-formaldehyde resin (MUF) as the wall material. The anti-mold performance of the microcapsules was investigated. The aim was to improve the stability of the anti-mold agent and broaden its application in the field of bamboo fungicide through microencapsulation technology.

Firstly, the optimal preparation process of the microcapsule antimicrobial agent was obtained through orthogonal experiments, and the effects of 6 types of surfactants on the microscopic morphology of the microcapsule antimicrobial agent were examined; the microcapsule morphology, structure, composition, thermal stability, IPBC encapsulation rate and sustained-release performance were characterized and analyzed using techniques such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), and high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS); and the microcapsule antimicrobial agent was applied to the bamboo sample, and its antimicrobial performance against black mold, green mold, and citrine mold was tested.

Under the reaction conditions of pH value of 3, temperature of 40 ℃, reaction time of 3 hours, core-to-wall ratio of 1∶1, and using styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer (SMA) as a surface active agent, the best morphology of bamboo microcapsule antimicrobial agent was obtained, and it has good inhibitory effects on typical molds. The average preventive effect of bamboo treated with microcapsule antimicrobial agent reaches 79.17%.

The microcapsule fungicide prepared in this study ensured a high IPBC encapsulation rate and good microcapsule morphology, and showed good control efficacy against three common molds. This microencapsulation treatment method in this study effectively protected IPBC, improved the stability of the fungicide, and achieved potential application effects.