Preparation and application of LDPE/diatomite/sorbitan tristearate antifogging film for greenhouse crop cultivation
摘要
Fogging on agricultural greenhouse covering films reduces solar transmission, resulting in insufficient photosynthetically active radiation and hindering crop growth. In this study, a long-acting antifogging composite film was developed by incorporating diatomite (DE) and sorbitan tristearate (STS) into low-density polyethylene (LDPE). The introduction of STS enabled the surface of LDPE to undergo a transition from hydrophobic to hydrophilic. The film has the ability of preventing fogging and increasing solar irradiation inside the greenhouse by 15%. On the 30th day of the hot fog test, the failure area of the film was only 20%, and the introduction of DE reduced the diffusion coefficient of STS from 0.2 to 0.06 cm 2 min−1. Rheological properties and crystallinity testing revealed the interaction mechanism between STS and LDPE molecules. Greenhouse cultivation experiments showed that the chlorophyll content of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. chinensis) and spinach (Spinacia oleracea) grown under the antifogging film increased by 24% and 30%, respectively. This antifogging film can be produced on a large scale using the casting method and offers significant potential for improving the quality of greenhouse crops.