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Insect Repellent Coatings

Using essential oils with CAVAMAX® and CAVASOL® cyclodextrins

Insect repellents that discourage insects from landing, climbing or remaining on a surface can help prevent and control the outbreak of insect-borne diseases. In CAVAMAX® and CAVASOL®, we offer a solution for developing a product that meets consumers' growing concerns about the use of “harsh” chemicals and the need for greener, natural replacements that are just as effective.

Insect repellent coating PDF, 270.2 KB | English

Essential oils like lavender, citronella, rosemary and tea-tree oil are well-known natural products extracted from plants and often used as insect repellents.

We have many years of experience in the production of inclusion complexes. The process is easily scalable, reproducible, and low in cost. In fact, WACKER has already demonstrated that the inclusion complex formed in a water-borne coating formulated with a natural compound such as citronella releases the citral from the dried coating in an amount that can be detected by gas chromatography and the nose.

CAVAMAX® and CAVASOL® cyclodextrins are a well-known group of natural carbohydrates that are able to encapsulate or host other organic compounds (citronella oil) in a reversible, equilibrium-controlled process in water. This process of ‘molecular encapsulation’ effectively modifies the properties of the organic guest molecules by reducing their volatility, extending their release over time and improving their stability and solubility in water.

Accelerated Insect-Repellency Study

Insect repellency of commercial paint coatings containing CAVAMAX® citronella oil complex (0.5% citronella oil)

5% (w/v) CAVAMAX® citronella was post-added to a commercial water-borne latex emulsion paint. The paint was then applied by drawdown (5 mil, 4” x 4” frame) to Leneta cards and allowed to dry for 24 hours. The control card was treated in the same manner. Argentine ants were effectively repelled by CAVAMAX® citronella oil complex, even after 16 days' storage under accelerated conditions. 

The addition of the encapsulated essential oil to the aqueous coating formulations at 1.8 to 4.5 g essential oil per kilo of paint (0.18 – 0.45%) did not affect the stability of the formulation, change its color or appearance or alter the performance of the coating. 

Currently, three CAVAMAX® inclusion complexes of essential oils are available for use as insect repellents, and many others have been prepared.  

  • CAVAMAX® citronella oil 
  • CAVAMAX® peppermint complex 
  • CAVAMAX® geraniol oil 

If these options do not meet your requirements, please contact us to discuss your specific goals and needs.