Plastic is a key material for agriculture. The most used are PVC or polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polystyrene and polyethylene. The two that are used most frequently are the first and the last. In this article we show you the uses of polyethylene in agriculture and its advantages in detail.
Types of polyethylene: low density and high intensity polyethylene
There are mainly two types of polyethylene: high intensity and low intensity. The latter has a density range between 0,910 and 0,940 g/cm3. This material is the one we usually see in the warehouses and structures used to produce vegetables and flowers. With it the ground is covered, which is known as 'mulch' It is very common for intensive agriculture because it allows the production of the harvest to be brought forward. Its main problem is that it has very little durability due to the way in which ultraviolet radiation affects it. This low intensity polyethylene is known as PEBD.
High-density polyethylene or HDPE is one of the most used in agriculture today. It has a density that is above 0,940 g/cm3. Unlike the previous polyethylene, this one has a much more compact structure that is more resistant to both high temperatures and chemical agents. Precisely for this reason it is the one that is usually used preferably for the construction of pots, planters, pipes for the passage of irrigation water, etc.
One of the great advantages of polyethylene is that it maintains all its properties even after being recycled, which is why it is being used and recycled more and more.
To give an example that helps us to understand the great versatility of this material, we can say that in livestock areas it is widely used for the conservation of fodder and the storage of grains. Its resistance and elasticity are what make it highly attractive for use in the agricultural and livestock sectors, but also for the food sector, among others.
These are the general characteristics of high-density polyethylene:
- It is a very strong material
- Can be processed in different ways
- It is highly chemically resistant
- It is quite flexible, even at low temperatures
- It is more compact, rigid and mechanically resistant than the low intensity one
- It is quite light
- It can withstand maximum working temperatures of 60°C in terms of liquids
- It is highly recyclable
- It is impact resistant
Irrigation pipes, as we have already mentioned, are mainly made of polyethylene, although they can be made with other materials such as PVC, which we will talk about in the blog, depending on the use of water.
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One of the most used materials in the agricultural sector is PVC together with polyethylene that we have already told you about. Today we want to talk to you about what this material is and the advantages of using PVC in agriculture.
PVC by definition
The abbreviations of PVC correspond to the words polyvinyl chloride. The material is the result of the polymerization of vinyl chloride monomer and is the most versatile plastic of all. Reason why it is also one of the most used in the world for different applications.
There are two types of PVC, rigid and flexible. Rigid PVC is often used to make containers, windows or pipes. Flexible PVC is more widely used for making cables, coatings or footwear, to give a few examples.
The main characteristics of PVC that determine its use in agriculture are its dimensional stability, its resistance to environmental factors, its ability to be recyclable, in addition, by various methods, and its ductile condition.
PVC characteristics
- It is highly resistant. PVC irrigation pipes can last more than sixty years.
- It is versatile thanks to its flexibility which allows it to be used in multiple applications.
- It is stable and inert so it is suitable in applications where hygiene is a priority.
- It does not burn on its own or burn easily.
- It is an excellent electrical insulator.
- It can be purchased with different levels of hardness.
- It can provide energy and heat at an industrial level or at homes.
- It is flexible and this quality can be managed without the need to use high temperatures. In addition, it does not lose its properties.
- Is very cheap.
The use of PVC in agriculture
In the year 2.003 the use of PVC in agriculture grew remarkably. This has to do with its specific characteristics that represent great advantages for the sector.
PVC is a strong and flexible material, which means that it is very easy to install and handle when needed. Not only that, it is also lightweight, which makes handling it so easy.
If it is easy to handle, flexible and highly resistant, then it is suitable for conducting water. But it is especially so because it is a material that is very stable and inert. For this reason, PVC pipes are used for the distribution of water in irrigation and in evacuation of water.
We must think that the water that we administer to our plantations must be free of fungi and bacteria that can spoil it. In this sense, PVC is very resistant, making it perfect both for conducting water in irrigation systems.
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