Silwet™ 618 Super Spreader

Super-spreader with low stomatal infiltration

Silwet 618 spreader is a proprietary trisiloxane alkoxylate based wetting agent, used where spray coverage is needed but rapid uptake of agrochemicals is undesirable.

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Silwet 618 spreader lowers the surface tension of spray solutions, beyond that which is achievable with conventional adjuvants.

Because Silwet 618 spreader is a superspreading surfactant, the contact angle of spray solutions on leaf surfaces is reduced, leading to an increase in spray coverage (Figure 1).

Additionally, Silwet 618 spreader may help improve spray droplet adhesion of agrochemicals on plant foliage, thus potentially allowing reduction in spray volume. Since more of the spray is delivered to the target, less water is required to cover a given leaf surface (Figure 2).

Spray droplet adhesion was measured on the upper surface of canola leaf, using 750 µm droplets, applied from a free-fall distance of 50 cm. The leaf was positioned at a 22° angle of incidence. Figure 2 illustrates the improved droplet adhesion for Silwet 618 spreader as compared to a conventional adjuvant.

Silwet 618 spreader is nonionic in nature, making it useful with a broad range of agrochemical formulations.

Use level depends on spray volume, spray equipment and agrochemical application. Typical use rates for Silwet 618 spreader range from 0.01 to 0.05% for insecticide and fungicide applications and from 0.025 to 0.1% for herbicide applications.