Footnote
(Note 1) CLAF® is a net-like polyethylene nonwoven fabric used for agricultural applications such as for covering. It has sufficient water/air permeability. The mesh structure prevents pests from entering, and its windproof function helps to retains heat.
(Note 2) The aperture ratio is the ratio of openings per area.
(Note 3) “Leggy” indicates that the growth of plants are longer, thinner, and softer than normal. A leggy plant has long/slender stems, thin/small leaves, and high water content.
(Note 4) Fruit splitting and cracking occurs from overheating, inadequate water absorption, or disease/insect damage.
CLAF®-Based Fabric MEIRYO®(BerryCool®) That Protect Crops From High Temperature Damage
ENEOS Techno Materials Corporation
Industry: Manufacturing
| Publication date | July 6, 2022 (Posted on April 19, 2023) |
|---|---|
| Sector | Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries / Human Health |
Company Overview
ENEOS Techno Materials Corporation manufactures, processes, and sells non-woven fabrics and sheet pallets, and offers high-function, high-performance special non-woven fabrics made with its proprietary technology for vertical and horizontal fiber layering.
Climate Change Impacts
The recent heat wave caused by abnormal weather has become a serious problem for vegetable cultivation in summer, resulting in poor growth/quality, and the temperature inside plastic greenhouses are also on the rise.
Adaptation Initiatives
In order to avoid high-temperature damage to crops in summer, we developed a high-performance heat-blocking material, CLAF® (Note 1)-based fabric MEIRYO®, which reflects infrared rays, the source of heat, while passing through visible light necessary for photosynthesis.
It is used as an outer or inner covering for agricultural greenhouses (Fig. 1) and has the following features.
- Heat shielding and translucency: Reduces greenhouse temperatures by reflecting infrared rays, the source of heat. Provides four shading grades: 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%.
- Breathability: Net structure with an aperture ratio (Note 2) of approximately 40% maintains adequate air permeability.
- Durability: Excellent durability with UV inhibitor.
- Workability: Lightweight and easy to handle.
- Shape stability: No stretching or shrinkage, intersections are thermally bonded, and there is no misalignment of cut surfaces when processed with scissors or other tools.
In a comparison of temperatures inside greenhouses in a thermal insulation performance test, the use of “MEIRYO® 30w” reduced the temperature by up to 6°C compared to a normal greenhouse (Fig. 2).
Effects / Expected Benefits
The following effects on crops are expected from the use of CLAF®, MEIRYO®.
- Prevent seedlings from become leggy during high-temperature (Note 3)
- Prevent tomato splitting and cracking (Note 4)
- Prevent blossom drops affected by high temperatures
- Avoid growth stunting under high temperature for vegetables such as spinach
- Avoid drying under high temperatures
- Prevent quality loss of fruit from heat damage
- Prevent sunburns on fruit
It is also expected to improve the working environment for workers and prevent heat stroke, as it controls the rise in temperature inside the greenhouses.
Related sites
- ENEOS Techno Materials Corporation
- ENEOS Techno Materials Corporation -MEIRYO®（BerryCool®)*
* MEIRYO®(brand name in Japan, China and Korea), BerryCool® (brand name in EU, USA and South East Asia) - ENEOS Techno Materials Corporation -Brochure of MEIRYO®
