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Title:
METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR DAG MITIGATION
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2019/035849
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
Technologies are generally described for methods and compositions for mitigating dag formation on the animal hide. A composition for mitigating dag on an animal hide comprises at least one reactive hydrophobic metal compound having a complex metal salt of a fatty acid and at least one amino group, at least one reactive binder, and at least one of: a solvent or a reactive diluent, where the composition is configured to form a matrix in situ with hair in the animal hide to mitigate dag formation.

Inventors:
ADAM GEORGIUS ABIDAL (AU)
Application Number:
PCT/US2017/047688
Publication Date:
February 21, 2019
Filing Date:
August 18, 2017
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
INVENTION DEVELOPMENT MAN COMPANY (US)
International Classes:
A61K35/66; A61K35/74; A61K38/43
Domestic Patent References:
WO2017087234A12017-05-26
WO2008113070A22008-09-18
Foreign References:
AU2006287247A12007-06-14
US6029610A2000-02-29
CN106179087A2016-12-07
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
TURK, Carl K. (US)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A composition for mitigating dag on an animal hide, the composition comprising: at least one reactive hydrophobic metal compound comprising a complex metal salt of a fatty acid and at least one amino group;

at least one reactive binder; and

at least one of a solvent or a reactive diluent, wherein the composition is configured to form a matrix in situ with hair in the animal hide to mitigate dag formation.

2. The composition of claim I , wherein the matrix is formed in situ with the hair when the compound and the at least one reactive hinder react at ambient temperature.

3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein metal in the metal salt of the fatty acid is a divalent metal, a trivalent metal or a teiravalent metal.

4. The composition of claim X wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of zinc, calcium, magnesium, aluminum, and tin.

5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the least one amino group is selected from the group consisting of a primary, a secondary, and a tertiary amine.

6. The composition of claim 5, wherein the least one amino group has substituents selected from aliphatic, aromatic, and aikyphenyi substituents with a chain consisting of Co- C18,

7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the at least one reactive binder is selected from the group consisting of poiyurethane, epoxy, polyurea, polyamide, polyester, polysiloxane, polyacrylate, and combinations thereof.

8. The composition of clai m 1 , wherein the at least one reactive binder has at least one functional component selected from the group consisting of a curing agent, a catalyst, a hardener, a crosslinking agent, and combinations thereof.

9. The composition of clai m 1 , wherein the sol vent is selected from the group consisting of ethanol, cyclohexane, cyclohexene oxide, and crosslinking agents.

10. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the reactive diluent is selected from the group consisting of cyclohexene oxide and crosslinking agents, wherein the crosslinking agents include one of: aminoethylaminopropyltriethoxy silane, glycidylpropyltriethoxy silane, alky! tri (dialkylketoxiroe) silane, ocjtyltriethoxy silane, iso octyltriethoxy silane, is© butyl trieihoxy silane, or any alkyl trialkoxy silane (C6-18).

11. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is configured to provide hydrophobicity with a contact angle in a range from about 100 degrees to about 130 degrees with the animal hide.

12. A method of mitigating dag on an animal hide, the method comprising: applying a composition to the animal hide by one of: spraying, rinsing, coating, soaking, and dispersing to form a matrix in situ with hair in the animal hide, wherein the composition comprises:

at least one reactive hydrophobic metal compound comprising a complex metal salt of a fatty acid and at least one amino group;

at least one reactive binder; and

at least one of a solvent or a reactive diluent.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein applying the composition to the animal hide comprises:

applying the composition to the animal hide to form the matrix in situ with the hair when the compound and the at least one reactive binder react at ambient temperature.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein applying the composition to the animal hide comprises:

applying the composition to roe animal hide to form the matrix in situ with the hair when the compound and the at least one reactive binder react photocatal ytically.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one reactive binder has at least one functional component selected from the group consisting of a curing agent, a catalyst, a hardener, a crosslinking agent, and combinations thereof.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one reactive binder has at least one functional component selected from the group consisting of epoxy, acryJate, amine, isocyanate, hydroxy!, hydroxy! amine, alcohol, vinyl, ailyi, cyanoacrylate, and combinations thereof.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the least one reactive binder is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, epoxy, polyurea, polyamide, polyester, polysiloxane, polyacrylate, and combinations thereof.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the binder is Afunctional or polyfunctional.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the reactive diluent is selected from the group consisting of cyclohexene oxide and crosslinking agents, wherein the erosslinking agents include one of: aminoethylaminopropyltriethoxy silane, glycidylpropyltrietboxy silane, aikyi tri (dialkylketoxime) silane, oetyltriethoxy silane, iso octyltriethoxy silane, iso butyl triethoxy silane, or any alkyl trialkoxy silane (C6-I8).

20. A method of mitigating dag on an animal hide, the method comprising:

providing at least one reactive hydrophobic metal compound that comprises a complex metal salt of a fatty acid and at least one amino group;

adding at least one reactive binder to the compound to form a mixture;

combining the mixture with at least one of a solvent or a reactive di luent to form a sprayable solution; and

spraying the solution on the animal hide to form a matrix in situ with hair in the animal

21. The method of claim 20, wherein applying the composition to the animal hide comprises:

applying the composition to the animal hide to form the matrix in situ with the hair when the compound and the at least one reactive binder react at ambient temperature.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein applying the composition to the animal hide comprises:

applying the composition to the animal hide to form the matrix in situ with the hair when the compound and the at least one reacti ve binder react photocataiytieally.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the at least one reactive binder has at least one functional component selected from the group consisting of epoxy, acrylate, amine, isocyanate, hydroxy!, hydroxyl amine, alcohol, vinyl, allyl, cyanoacrylate, and combinations thereof.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the at least one reactive binder is selected from the group consisting of polyurethanei epoxy, polyurea, polyamide, polyester, polysiloxane, po!yacrylatc, and combinations thereof.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the binder is difunctional or polyfunctionai.

26. A system for preparing a dag mitigation composition, the system comprising:

a mixing chamber configured to mix at least one reactive hydrophobic metal compound having at least one metal salt of a fatty acid forming a complex with at least one amino group; a binder source; at least one of a solvent source or a reactive diluent source; and

a programmable controller coupled to the mixing chamber, the binder source, the solvent source and/or the reactive diluent source, wherein the controller is configured to manage operations of the mixing chamber, the binder source, the sol vent source and/or the reactive diluent source by executing one or more instructions, the one or more instructions comprising:

employing the binder source to provide at least one reactive binder selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, epoxy, polyurea, polyamide, polyester, poiysiloxane, polyacrylate, and combinations thereof;

forming a mixture by adding the at least one reactive binder to the compound; employing the solvent source to provide a solvent selected from the group consisting of erhanol, cyclohexane, cyclohexene oxide, and crosslinking agents;

employing the reactive diluent source to provide a reactive diluent selected from the group consisting of cyclohexene oxide and crosslinking agents, wherein the crosslinking agents include one of; aminoethylaminopropyltriemoxy silane, glycidylpropyltrierooxy silane* alkyl tri (dialkylketoxime) silane, octyroiethoxy silane, iso octylrriethoxy silane, iso butyl triethoxy silane, or any alkyl trialkoxy silane (C6~ 18); and

combining the mixture with at least one of the sol vent or the reactive diluent to form a sprayable solution,

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the solution is dispersible on a substrate by spraying, coating, soaking, or brushing.

Description:
METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR DAGMITIGATION

BACKGROUND

[0001] Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

[0002] Dag may often form on an animal's hide because of regular contact with water, urine, and/or fecal matter, the dag may also grow over time. The formation of dag may lead to an enhanced probability of disease as large amounts of bacteria may be present in the dag. Dag formation on animals such as cattle, and problems associated therewith, may be prevalent in many places. For example, cattle are often exported in large ships and the dag may add considerable weight during shipping and it may be difficult for the cattle to pass inspection.

[0003] Dags comprised of fecal and soil particles that may also represent a significant health problem for the personnel of beef processing industry. This may be especially true during the rainy season when pens in which the cattle are lcept remain wet following rainfall. Processing of "daggy" cattle at abattoirs may increase the risk of meat contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms reaching the consumer.

[0004] Current methods for dag removal may induce stress in the cattle at feedlots. This may have a detrimental effect on the quality of meat reaching the consumer, and additionally, may pose health and safety hazards for workers. While cleanup and removal of the dags may be performed at the abattoir before or following slaughter, high microbial loads may be present in dags which may threaten food safety protocols.

[0005] A need exists to develop non-stress-inducing methods and compositions that can be applied to the animal to prevent dag formation on the animal hide. SUMMARY

[0006] The present disclosure generally describes techniques for mitigating dag on an animal hide.

[0007] According to some examples, a composition to mitigate dag on an animal hide is provided The composition may include at least one reactive hydrophobic metal compound that comprises a complex metal salt of a fatty acid and at least one amino group; The composition may former include at least one reactive binder and at least one of a solvent or a reactive diluent The composition may be configured to form a matrix in situ with hair in the animal hide to mitigate dag formation.

[0008] According to other examples, a method of mitigating dag on an animal hide is provided. The method may include applying a composition to the animal hide by spray ing, rinsing, coating, soaking, or dispersing such that a matrix is formed in situ with hair in the animal hide, where the composition comprises at least one reactive hydrophobic metal compound that comprises a complex metal salt of a fatty acid and at least one amino group, at least one reactive binder, and at least one of a solvent or a reactive diluent.

[0009] According to further examples, a method of mitigating dag on an animal hide is provided. The method may include providing at least one reactive hydrophobic metal compound that comprises a complex metal salt of a fatty acid and at least one amino group, adding at least one reactive binder to the compound to form a mixture, combining the mixture with at least one of a solvent or a reactive diluent to form a sprayable solution, and spraying the solution on the animal hide such that a matrix is formed in situ with hair in the animal hide.

[0010] According to some examples, a system for preparing a dag mitigation composition is provided. The system may include a mixing chamber configured to mix at least one reactive hydrophobic metal compound having at least one metal salt of a fatty acid forming a complex with at least one amino group, a binder source, at least one of a solvent source or a reactive diluent source, and a programmable controller coupled to the mixing chamber, the hinder source, the solvent source and/or the reactive diluent source. The programmable controller may be configured to manage operations of the mixing chamber, the hinder source, the solvent source and/or the reactive diluent source by executing one or more instructions; The instructions may comprise employing the binder source to provide at least one reactive binder selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, epoxy, polyurea, polyamide, polyester, polysiloxane, polyacrylate, and combinations thereof, forming a mixture by adding the at least one reactive binder to the compound, employing the sol vent source to provide a solvent selected from the group consisting of ethanol, pyciohexane, cyclohexene oxide, and crosslinking agents, employing the reactive diluent source to provide a reactive diluent selected from the group consisting of cyclohexene oxide and crosslinking agents, wherein the crosslinking agents include one of: aminoethylaminopropyltriethoxy silane,

glycidylpropyltriethoxy silane, alkyl tri (dialkylketoxime) silane, octyltriethoxy silane, iso octyltriethoxy silane, iso butyl triethoxy silane, or any alkyl trialkoxy silane (C'6-i 8), and combining the mixture with at least one of the solvent or the reactive diluent to form a sprayable solution.

[0011] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The foregoing and other features of this disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 A illustrates a chemical structure of cystine;

PIG. 1 B illustrates a chemical structure of keratin fibers;

FIG. 1C illustrates a chemical structure of example hair coloring pigments;

FIGS.2A and 2B illustrates a comparison of an animal hide before and after applying a composition to mitigate dag on the animal hide, respecti vely;

FIG. 3 illustrates a chemical structure of a reactive hydrophobic metal compound;

FIG.4 illustrates a reaction scheme of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates a chemical structure of a reactive hydrophobic active ingredient;

FIG. 6 is a How diagram showing operations that may be used in making an example dag mitigation composition;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an automated machine that may be employed for making dag mitigation compositions;

FIG. 8 illustrates a computing device that may be used to control the automated machine of FIG.7 in making the dag mitigation compositions; and

FIG. 9 illustrates a block diagram of an example computer program product that may be used to control the automated machine of FIG.7 or similar manufacturing equipment in making the example dag mitigation compositions, all arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

10013] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be used, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented herein. It will be readily understood mat the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the Figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated herein.

[0014] This disclosure is generally drawn, among other things, to compositions, methods, apparatus, systems, devices, and/or computer program products related to mitigation of dag on an animal hide.

[0015] Briefly stated, technologies ate generally described to reduce or even eliminate a need to remove dag from hair on the animal hide. In some examples, the selective compounds and components may protect the hair of the animal from wetting. Since dap easily adhere to wet hair, the mitigation of wetting of the hair may men in turn mitigate the formation of dags on the hair.

[0016] As used herein, the term "dag, dag!ock, or daggle- lock 5 ' is a lumpy, dirty, or clotted hair mass that has accumulated on the hair of livestock, such as cattle or sheep, and other animals. For example, dag may be a dangling or matted lock of for, hair, or wool and may comprise feces or urine. For this disclosure, a dag may be considered to be any foreign matter that clings to the hair, wool or other mammalian hair of an animal.

[0017] In some examples, the present disclosure may not involve activities and factors mat are known to be stressful to the animal such as noisy environment, human handling, electric prodding, washing, dipping, brushing, and shearing. For example, the compounds may be passively applied to the hair of the animal. Also, when an animal experiences stress or trauma, meat quality may be potentially lowered. Thus, the disclosed non-stress application of compounds to the cattle may improve meat quality. Further, the formation of dag may lead to an enhanced probability of disease as large amounts of bacteria may be introduced into the dag. Thus, the mitigation of the formation of dags on the hair may mitigate the contamination of the meat. The reduction, mitigation, or elimination of the formation of dags may, in turn, aid the slaughter house in meeting regulations that may require that the animal be deemed "clean" prior to slaughter.

[0018] Also, as used herein, the term ¾HV* is used broadly to mean any form of mammalian hair such as wool or any of the fine, threadlike strands growing from the skin, The term "hide" is used broadly herein to mean the skin from which the hair is growing. For example, the method and constituents of the present disclosure may reduce or even eliminate a need to remove dag from the hair of the animal It will be appreciated mat by at least reducing the formation of dag on the hair of the animal by weakening the dags that are formed such mat they can easily be removed or by eliminating the formation of dag on the hair of the animal entirely, mis disclosure helps keep dag away from the hide of the animal. The presently disclosed method and compositions may protect or inhibit wetting of the hair and thus mitigate dag formation for several months. [0019] FIG. LA illustrate a chemical structure of Cystine 110, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Cystine 110 is an oxidized dimer form of amino acid cysteine arid has the formula as shown in the FIG. ! . For

example, cystine 110 may be formed by the oxidation of two cysteine molecules that may be covalently linked via a disulfide bond. Cysteine is a semi essential proteinogenic amino acid and is an essentia] component found in an animal's hair.

[0020] FIG. IB illustrates a chemical structure of keratin fibers 120, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Keratin is a protein formed by the rombination of i 8 amino acids, among which cysteine, being rich in sulfur and other reactive functional groups, may play an important role in the cohesion of hydrophobic compounds to the hair.

[0021] FIG. I C illustrates a chemical structure of example hair coloring pigments, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. The coloring pigments such as melanins are of two basic types: eumelanin and pheomelanin. FIG. 1 C shows the chemical structures of pheomelanin 130 and eumelanin 140.

[0022] Animal hair, such as cattle hair, may consist of keratin fibers, cysteine, and the coloring pigments as essentia! components of the ham The keratin fibers are hydrophi!ic in nature due to presence of hydrogen bonds in the amino acids of keratin. For example, amino acid cysteine is the bask binding constituent of the keratin fibers 120. Due to the hydrophilic nature Of the keratin fibers 120, the animal hair may become wet easily when in contact with water. As a result, a direct application or spraying of hydrophobic agents or water repellents on the cattle hair to prevent dag accumulation may not be successful as hydrophilic and hydrophobic substance may repel each other. [0023] According to some embodiments, the present disclosure discloses a reaction of hydrophobic or super hydrophobic reactive fatty acid metal amine compounds and other reactive binding ingredients with the keratin, cysteine, and coloring pigments that changes the properties of hair from hydrophiUc to hydrophobic in order to prevent die hair from wetting and thus mitigate the formation of dag.

10024) FIGS.2Λ and 2B illustrates a comparison of an animal hide before and after applying a composition to mitigate dag on the animal hide, respectively, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.

[0025] FIG.2A shows an example of untreated animal hide 200 that has been raised in a typical farm environment, where the hair growing from the untreated animal hide 200 has accumulated a substantial amount of dag 202. FIG. 2B shows an example of an animal hide 204 that has been treated wi th the constituents of the present disclosure and raised in a typical farm environment. The animal hide 204 is treated by applying a composition to the animal hide 204 by one of: spraying, rinsing, coating, soaking, and dispersing the animal hide 204 with and/or in the composition such that a matrix is formed in situ with hair 206 in the animal hide. The composition comprises at least one reactive hydrophobic metal compound having a complex metal salt of a fatty acid and at least one amino group, at least one reactive binder, and at least one of a solvent or a reactive diluent. The composition may be applied simultaneously in a single application or in separate applications. For example, the hydrophobic metal compound and the binder may be mixed together in at least one of the solvent or the reactive diluent and immediately applied. Alternatively, the hydrophobic metal compound and the binder may be mixed separately with at least one of the solvent or the reactive diluent and applied separately at the same time. [0026] Regardless of whether the reactive hydrophobic metal compound and the binder are applied as a mixture or separately, upon the application of both compounds to die hair 206, they may react with the hair 206 and bond or hold the hydrophobic tail of the metal compound to the hair 206. The hydrophobicity of the hydrophobic tail of the metal compound may thus be transferred to the hair 206 and may enable a reaction with the hair 206 to mitigate dag. For example, because the treated animal hair 206 is hydrophobic, the hair 206 will repel water and thus is less prone to being wetted either by water, urine, or fecal matter, for example, which may substantially mitigate, and in some cases, may even eliminate the formation of dag.

J0027] A comparison based on FIGS.2A & 2B clearly shows that the application of the composi tion onto hair of the animal may enable a reaction with the hair that mitigates dag formation on the hair in the animal hide.

{0028] FIG. 3 illustrates a chemical structure of a reactive hydrophobic metal compound 300, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. The reactive hydrophobic metal compound 300 may have a complex metal salt of a fatty acid and at least one amino group. The metal 302 ("M") in the metal saltof the fatty acid as shown in FIG. 3 may include a divalent metal, a trivalent metal or a tetravalent metal. For example, the metal 302 may be zinc, calcium, magnesium, aluminum, or tin among other similar metals. In other examples, the at least one amino group may be a primary amine, a secondary amine, or a tertiary amine. In further examples, the least one amino group may have aliphatic, aromatic, and/or alkypbenyl substituehts with a chain consisting of C6-C18.

|0029] According to some embodiments, die disclosed reactive hydrophobic metal compound is a reactive hydrophobic reagent or water repellent, and thus may, individually or in or in combination with other reactive binding ingredients, form strong hydrogen bonding with components of animal hair, such as keratin, cysteine, and melanin. As a result, the hydrophobicity of the reactive hydrophobic metal compound (specifically the hydrophobic tali of the metal compound) may be transferred to the components of animal hair, which may increase the hydrophobicity of the animal hair. Accordingly, the animal hair may repel water and thus may less prone to being wetted by water, urine * or fecal matter, for example, which may substantially mitigate, and in some cases, may even eliminate the formation of dag. The reactive hydrophobic metal compound comprised of fotty acid / amine complexes may also be a safe compound. For example, similar compounds, such as zinc gluconic acid amine complexes are used as effective halitosis medicals that involve application within the mouth.

10030] FIG. 4 illustrates a reaction scheme 400, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. The reaction scheme may tale place upon applying a composition that includes a reactive hydrophobic metal compound having a complex metal salt of a fatty acid and at least one amino group, at least one reactive binder, and at least one of a solvent or a reactive diluent to the animal's hair to form a matrix. The reaction may take place in situ at an ambient temperature. The reaction causes the formation of strong bonding between the hydrophobic agents of the composition and the functional groups of cysteine and melanin that are components of the animal's hair. The composition may be applied to the animal's hair by spraying, rinsing, coating, soaking, or dispersing the hair with or in the composition. Several types of reactive hydrophobic metal compounds and/or reactive binders may be available commercially as reactive starting material.

[0031] According to some embodiments, a catalyst may also be applied to the hair. The concentration of the catalyst required to control the rate of curing of the final hydrocarbon may be between about 0.01 -0.001 weight % of the total composition. The catalyst may comprise a composition of stannous octanoate, dialkylttn oxide, tctra-n-propyl orthosilicate, propyl polystlicate, dioctyitin oxide, platinum complex catalysts, dibutyltin dilaurate, dibutyltin dioctanoate, and/or combinations thereof. The catalyst composition may have an inert solvent to dilute the catalyst as the concentration of the catalyst used may be very low compared to the total composition. The provided catalyst may be added to a container and mixed into the composition comprising the reactive hydrophobic metal compound, the at least one binder, and at least one of the solvent or the reactive diluent The composition and provided catalyst may be simultaneously and immediately applied to the hair, upon adding die provided catalyst to the container and mixing. Alternatively, the provided catalyst may be applied to the hair after the application of the composition onto the hair.

10032] A photocatalyst may also be applied onto the hair. The photocatalyst may be applied simultaneously with the reactive hydrophobic metal compound, Upon exposing the hair to light, a photocatalyUc reaction of the reactive hydrophobic metal compound with the hair may take place.

[0033] A hardener may also be applied to the hair. The hardener may be optional. For example, a hardener may be applied to hair as a composition at an equivalent ratio to the reactive hydrophobic metal compound for curing and bonding and forming a matrix with the hair. The hardener may comprise an amine terminated polypropyleneoxide, an amine terminated polybutadiene, isophoron diamine, meta xylene diamine,

aminoethylaminopropyltriethoxy silane or other hardener as is known by persons having ordinary skill in the art of epoxy resins for forming a matrix of the reactive hydrophobic metal compound with the hair.

[0034] The hardener and the reactive hydrophobic metal compound may be

simultaneously applied to hair by mixing the hardener with the reactive hydrophobic metal compound and immediately applying to the hair, in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the reactive hydrophobic metal compound and the hardener may be applied to the hair in at least two separate applications, For example, in a first application, the reactive hydrophobic metal compound may be sprayed, or otherwise applied, onto hair and in a second application, the hardener may be sprayed, or otherwise applied, onto the hair.

|0035] According to some embodiments, die reactive binder may be a curing agent, a catalyst, a hardener, a crossimking agent, and/or combinations thereof. The applying of the compound and the binder to the hair may enable a reaction with the hair and the formation of a matrix in situ with the hair. The matrix may have the at least one hydrophobic component extending from the hair that imparts its hydrophobicity to the hair. Accordingly, the hair will repel water and is less prone to being wetted either by water, urine, or fecal matter, for example, which may substantially mitigate, and in some cases, may even eliminate the formation of dag.

{0036] According to some embodiments, the binder may be an epoxy active component that includes l,4butandiol diglycidyl ether, 1,1,1-triglycidyl ether trimethylolalkane (C6-18), neopentyl diglycidyl ether or any dialkylmathanediglycidyjefter (C6-C18), 4-alkyl η,η diglycidytetberanihne (C6-C18) and/or bisphenol-diglycidyl ether containing J 0 % p-cresyl monoglycidyl ether, or any aikyl monoglycidylether (C6-C18), n^i-diglycidyl ether -4-alkyl aniline (C6-18), epoxy terminated poly (1 ,2 propylene oxide) and propyl giycidylcther triethoxy silane in combination with a hardener such as: oleyl amine, octadecylamine or any alkyamine (C6-C18), isophorone diamine, pentaethylene triatnine, amine terminated poly( 1 ,2- propyleneoxide), aminoethylaminopropyltriemoxy silane. The binder may also be selected from polyurethane group mat may consist one of the compounds that contain two isocyanate functional groups or more such as: hexa methylene di isocyanate, octa methylene di isocyanate, or any alkyiene diisocyanate, isocyanate terminated poly ( 1 ,2 -propylene oxide), or any isocyanate terminated poiy(alkylene oxide), may combined with a compound that contain two hydroxy or two amino groups such as: hydroxy terminated poly (1 ,2 -propylene oxide), or any hydroxy terminated polyalkyleneoxide or hydroxy terminated poly butadiene, fatty alcohol (C6-CI8) any polyether polyol, or other binders such as: alkyi methacryiaie (C6-18), alkyl a - cyano acrylate (C6-18), ocryt triethoxy silane pr any alkyl triaikoxy silane (CiM 8) or any photo curing epoxy compound or any photo curing hydrophobic substituted acrylate monomers, or tetra methylol urea pr unsaturated poly esters .

|O037] The formation of the matrix in situ with the hair may occur when the

hydrophobic metal compound and the binder react at ambient temperature. The formation of the matrix in situ with die hair may occur when the reactive hydrophobic metal compound and binder photocatalylically react

[0038] In some examples, the binder may be difunctional or polyfunctional. The binder may be polyurethane, epoxy, polyurea, polyamide, polyester, poiysiloxane, polyacrylate, and/or combinations thereof. The binder may have at least one functional component consisting of epoxy, acrylate, amine, isocyanate, hydroxy!, hydroxyl amine, alcohol, vinyi, allyl, cyanoacryiate, and/or combinations thereof. The binder may comprise a photocatalytic catalyst and the photocatalytic catalyst may be applied to the hair in amount between about 0.01 and 0.1 weight percent of the compound and the binder.

{0039] Safe solvents or reactive diluents, such as alcohols, may be added to the composition in an amount to make the reactive composition spray able. The composition may be in liquid form and the stepfs) of applying the compounds to the hair may include spraying, rinsing, dispersing, or applying by means which are known to persons having ordinary skill in the art for applying a liquid to hair. The composition without having solvent may be in solid or powder form and the application of the compounds to the hair may include dusting, sprinkling, or applying by means which are known to persons having ordinary skill in the art for applying solids to hair. A primer binder coating may be applied to the hair before applying the composition in the powder form.

[0040] In other examples, additional materials may also be applied to the hair. For example, one or more hardeners, catalysts * solvents reactive diluents, bonding agents, crosslinking agents, or other materials may be applied to the hair, which may enhance, speed up, or drive a bonding reaction to the hair. In some examples, the solvent may be ethanol, cyelohexane, cyclohexene oxide, and/or a crosslinking agent The reactive diluents are selected from the group consisting of cyclohexene ox ide, and crosslinking agents , wherein the crosslinking agents include one of: aminoethylaminopropyltriethoxy silane,

glycidylpropyltriethoxy silane, alkyl tri (dialkylketoxime) silane, octyltrielhoxy silane, iso octyltrietboxy, iso butyl triethoxy silane, or any alkyl trialkoxysilane (C6-18).

[0041] The reactive binder may be a curing agent, a catalyst, a hardener, a crosslinking agent, and/or combinations thereof. The curing agent or hardener such as meta xylenediamine or tetraethykne pentarnine may be mixed into a container with the reactive hydrophobic metal compound to form a reactive composition, which may then be applied to the hair. Sale solvents or reactive diluents, such as alcohols, may be mixed into the container in an amount to make the reactive composition sprayablc. The reactive composition may be cured on the hair for about 30 minutes to about 6 hours to form a matrix with the hair.

[0042] Spraying systems may be designed tor the composition to be sprayed onto the animal at a distance from the animal. The sprayed reactive hydrophobic reagents of the composition may react and/or bond with the keratin composition of die animal's hair. Several types of reactive hydrophobic reagents previously presented may be Sprayed and then polymerised in situ to form strong bonding with tile keratin composition of the animal's hair.

As a result, the hydrophobicity of the reactive hydrophobic reagents of the composition may be transferred to the components of the animal's hair, which may increase the hydrophobicity of the animal's hair. Accordingly, the animal's hair may repel water and thus may be less prone to being wetted by water, urine, or fecal matter, for example, which may substantially mitigate, and in some cases, may even eliminate the formation of dag.

|0O43] FIG. 5 is a drawing 500 illustrating a chemical structure of a reactive hydrophobic fatty acid metal compound, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein, in some examples, a reactive hydrophobic tatty acid metal compound as a complex with di- or tri- alkyl amines (C6-C 18) may contain reactive functional groups as a part of the amine active ingredient, such as a mono- or di- glycidyl amine. For example, the reactive hydrophobic fatty acid metal compound may be a tristearyl aluminum complex with n,n- diglycidyl 4-alkyianine as shown in FIG. 5. After application to an animal's hair, the reactive hydrophobic fatty acid metal compounds may be cured with standard amine hardeners to form metal fatty acid derivatives bonded to the hair with strong epoxy bonds.

[0044] FIG.6 is a flow diagram illustrating an example method of mitigating dag on an animal hide, in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. The actions in FIG. 6 may be performed by a manu&cwring machine such as machine 700 in FIG.7 and controlled by a computing device such as computing device 800 in FIG. 8, in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Example methods may include one or more operations, {unctions or actions as illustrated by one or more of blocks 622, 624, 626, and/or 628. The operations described in the blocks 622 through 628 may also be stored as computer- executable instructions in a computer-readable medium such as a computer-readable medium 620 of a computing device 610.

[0045) An example process of a method of mitigating dag on an animal hide 600 may begin in FIG.6 with block 622, "PROVIDING AT LEAST ONE REACTIVE HYDROPHOBIC METAL COMPOUND," where the reactive hydrophobic metal compound comprises a complex metal salt of a fatty acid and at least one amino group. The metal salt of the ratty acid may be a divalent, a trivalent metal or a tetravalent metal. In Some examples, the metal may be zinc, calcium, magnesium, aluminum or tin. in other examples, the at least one amino group may be a primary, a secondary, or a tertiary amine, m further examples, the at least one amino group may have aliphatic substituents, aromatic substituents, or alkyphenyl substituents with a chain consisting of C6-C18,

[0046] Referring again to FIG.6, block 622 may be followed by block 624, "ADDING AT LEAST ONE REACTIVE BINDER TO THE COMPOUND " e.&, from binder source 794. Block 624 may be followed by block 626, "COMBINING THE MIXTURE WITH AT LEAST ONE OP A SOLVENT OR A REACTIVE DILUENT TO FORM A SPRAYABLE SOLUTION," which may be conducted in a mixing chamber 792.

[0047] Referring again to FIG.6, block 626 may be followed by block 628, "SPRAYING THE SOLUTION ON AN ANIMAL HIDE StJCH THAT A MATRIX IS FORMED IN SITU WITH HAIR IN THE ANIMAL HIDET wherein forming the matrix in situ with the hair occurs when the compound and the at least one reactive binder react at an ambient temperature.

{0048] Spraying systems may be designed for the solution to be sprayed onto the animal at a distance from the animal. The sprayed solution may react and/or bond with the keratin composition of the animal's hair. Once sprayed, the solution may be polymerised in situ with the animal's hair to form strong bonding with the keratin composition of the animal's hair.

[0049] lite blocks included in the above described process are tor illustration purposes. The methods may be implemented by similar processes with fewer or additional blocks. In some examples, the blocks may be performed in a different order. In some other examples, various blocks may be eliminated, In still other examples, various blocks may be divided into additional blocks, or combined into fewer blocks.

[0050] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an automated machine 700 that may be used for making an example dag mitigation composition as described herein using the process steps outlined in FIG. 6, in accordance with at least some embodiments. As illustrated in FIG. 7, a manufacturing controller 790 may be coupled to machines that can be used to carry out the steps described in FIG. 6, tor example, a mixing chamber 792, a binder source 794, a solvent source/a reactive diluent source 796, and/or optional substrate applicator 798. The mixing chamber 792 may be configured to mix at least one reacti ve hydrophobic metal compound haying at least one metal salt of a tatty acid forming a complex with at (east one amino group along with the at least one reactive binder and at least one of a solvent and a reactive diluent. The binder source 794 may be employed to provide the at least one reactive binder selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, epoxy, polyurea, polyamide, polyester, polysiloxane, polyacrylate, and combinations thereof. The solvent source/reactive diluent source 796 may be employed to provide a solvent selected from the group consisting of ethano!, cyclohexane, cyc!ohexene oxide, and crosslinking agents and the reactive diluent source may be employed to provide a reacti ve diluent selected from the group consisting of cyclohexene oxide and crosslinking agents, wherein the crosslinking agents include one of: aminoethylaminopropyltri ethoxy silane, glycidylpropyltriethoxy si lane, alkyl tri

(dialkylketoxime) silane, octyltriethoxy silane , iso octyltriethoxy silane, tso butyl triethoxy silane, or any alkyl trialkoxy silane (C6-18). The optional substrate applicator 798 may be used to disperse the composition on the substrate by spraying, coating, soaking, or brushing.

10051] Manufacturing controller 790 may be operated by human control, or may be directed by a remote controller 770 via network 710. Data associated with controlling the different processes of making the dag mitigation composition may be stored at and/or received from data stores 780.

[0052] Example embodiments may also include methods of making the dag mitigation composition as described herein. These methods may be implemented in any number of ways, including the structures described herein. One such way is by machine operations, of devices of the type described in the present disclosure. Another optional way is for one or more of the indi vidual operations of the methods to be performed in conjunction with one or more human operators performing some of the operations while other operations are performed by machines. These human operators need not be collocated with each other, but each may be only with a machine that performs a portion of the program. In other examples, the human interaction may be automated such as by preselected criteria that are machine automated.

[0053] FIG. 8 illustrates a computing device 800, which may be used to implement the methods of mitigating dag on an animal hide, in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. In an example, basic configuration 802, the computing device 800 may include one or more processors 804 and a system memory 806. A memory bus 808 may be used for communicating between the processor 804 and the system memory 806. The basic configuration 802 is illustrated in FIG. 8 by those components within the inner dashed line.

[0054] Depending on the desired configuration, the processor 804 may be of any type, including but not limited to a microprocessor (μΡ), a microcontroller (μ€% a digital signal processor (DSP), or any combination thereof The processor 804 may include one or more levels of caching, such as a cache memory 812, a processor core 814, and registers 816. The example processor core 814 may include an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a floating point unit (FPU), a digital signal processing core (DSP Core), or any combination thereof. An example memory controller 8 IB may also be used with the processor 804, or in some implementations, the memory controller 818 may be an internal part of me processor 804.

[0055] Depending on the desired configuration, the system memory 806 may be of any type including but not limited to volatile memory (such as RAM), non-volatile memory (such as ROM, flash memory, etc.) or any combination thereof. The system memory 806 may include an operating system 820, one or more manufacturing control applications 822, and program data 824. The manufacturing (MFG) control applications 822 may include a control module 825 and may be configured to control the processes of manufacturing and/or applying compositions for dag mitigation. The program data 824 may include, among other data, one or mote control parameters such as material data 828 associated with the dag mitigation compositions, or the like, as described herein.

[0056] The computing device 800 may have additional features or functionality, and additional interfaces to facilitate communications between the basic configuration 802 and any desired devices and interfaces. For example, a bus/interface controller 830 may be used to facilitate communications between the basic configuration 802 and one or more data storage devices 832 via a storage interface bus 834, The data storage devices 832 may be one or more removable storage devices 836, one or more non-removable storage devices 838, or a combination thereof. Examples of the removable storage and the non-removable storage devices include magnetic disk devices such as flexible disk drives and hard-disk drives (HDD), optical disk drives such as compact disk (CO) drives or digital versatile disk (DVD) drives, solid state drives (SSD), and tape drives; Example computer storage media may include volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. (0057] The system memory 806, the removable storage devices 836 and the nonremovable storage devices 838 are examples of computer storage media. Computer storage media includes, but is hot limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which may be used to store the desired information and which may be accessed by the computing device 800, Any such computer storage media may be part of the computing device 800.

[0058] The computing device 800 may also include an interface bus 840 for facilitating communication from various interface devices (e.g., one or more output devices 842, one or more peripheral interfaces 844, and one or more communication devices 846) to the basic configuration 802 via the bus/interface controller 830. Some of the example output devices 842 include a graphics processing unit 848 and an audio processing unit 850, which may be configured to communicate to various external devices such as a display or speakers via one or more A/V ports 852. One or more example peripheral interfaces 844 may include a serial interlace controller 854 or a parallel interface controller 856, which may be configured to communicate with external devices such as input devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, pen, voice input device. touch input device, etc.) or other peripheral devices (e.g., printer, scanner, etc.) via one or more I/O ports 858. An example communication device 846 includes a network controller 860, which may be arranged to facilitate communications with one or more other computing devices 862 over a network communication link via one or more communication ports 864. The one or more other computing devices 862 may include, for example, the manufacturing controller 890. [0059] The network communication link may be one example of a communication media. Communication media may typically be embodied by computer readable instructions, data structures,, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and may include any information delivery media. A "modulated data signal" may be a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media may include wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, radio frequency (RF), microwave, infrared (IR) and other wireless media. The term computer readable media as used herein may include both storage media and communication media,

[0060] The computing device 800 may be implemented as a part of a general purpose or specialized server, mainframe, or similar computer that includes any of the above functions. The computing device 800 may also be implemented as a personal computer including both laptop computer and non -laptop computer configurations.

[0061] FIG.9 illustrates a block diagram of an example computer program product 900, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. In some examples, as shown in FIG.9, the computer program product 900 may include a signal bearing medium 902 that may also include one or more machine readable instructions 904 that, when executed by, for example, a processor, may provide die functionality described herein. Thus, for example, referring to the processor 804 in FIG.8, the control module 826 may undertake one or more of the tasks shown in FIG. 9 in response to the instructions 904 conveyed to the processor 804 by the signal bearing medium 902 to perform actions associated with manufacturing the dag mitigation composition as described herein. Some of those instructions may include, for example, one or more instructions for ^employing a binder source to provide at least one reactive binder"; "forming a mixture by adding the at least one reactive binder to at least one reactive hydrophobic metal compound"; "employing a solvent source to provide a solvent"; "employing a reactive diluent source to provide a reactive diluent", and "combining the mixture with at least one of the solvent or the reactive diluent to form a sprayable solution", and the like, according to embodiments described herein.

[0062] in some implementations, the signal bearing medium 902 depicted in FIG, 9 may encompass a computer-readable medium 906, such as, but not limited to, a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a Compact Disc (CD), a Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), a digital tape, memory, etc. in some implementations, the signal bearing medium 902 may encompass a recordable medium 90S, such as, but not limited to, memory, read/write (R/W) CDs, R/W DVDs, etc. In some implementations, the signal bearing medium 902 may encompass a communications medium 910, such as, but not limited to, a digital and/or an analog communication medium (e.g., a fiber optic cable, a waveguide, a wired communication link, a wireless communication link, etc.). Thus, for example, the computer program product 900 may be conveyed to one or more modules of the processor 804 by an RF signal bearing medium, where the signal bearing medium 902 is conveyed by the wireless communications medium 810 (e.g., a wireless communications medium conforming with the IEEE 802.11 standard).

[0063] According to some examples, a composition for mitigating dag on an animal hide is provided. The composition for mitigating dag on an animal hide may include at least one reactive hydrophobic metal compound comprising a complex metal salt of a fatty aeid and at least one ammo group, at least one reactive binder, and at least one of: a solvent or a reactive diluent, where the composition may be configured to form a matrix in situ with hair in the animal hide to mitigate dag formation. [0064] in various examples of the dag mitigation composition, forming the matrix in situ with the hair occurs when the compound and the at least one reactive binder react at ambient temperature.

[0065] In various examples of the dag mitigation composition, the metal in the metal salt of the fatty acid may be a divalent metal a trivatent metal or a tetravalent metal. In some examples, the metal may be selected from the group consisting of zinc, calcium, magnesium, aluminum and tin. In other examples, the least one amino group may be selected from the group consisting of a primary, a secondary, and a tertiary amine. In further examples, the least one amino group may have substituents selected from aliphatic, aromatic, and alkyphenyl substituents with a chain consisting of C6VCIS.

[0066] In some examples of the dag mitigation composition, the at least one reactive binder may be selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, epoxy, polyurea, polyamide, polyester, polysitoxane, polyacrylate, and combinations thereof. In further examples, the binder may have at least one functional component selected from the group consisting of a curing agent, a catalyst, a hardener, a crosslinking agent, and combinations thereof. In other examples, the sol vent may be selected from the group consisting of ethanol, cyclohexane, cyciohexenc oxide, and crosslinking agents. In some other examples, the reactive diluent is selected from the group consisting of cyclohexenc oxide and crosslinking agents, wherein the crosslinking agents include one of: aminoethylaminopropyltriethoxy silane, gtyctdylpropyitriemoxy silane, alky! tri (dialkylketoxime) silane, octyltriethoxy silane, iso octyltriethoxy, iso btityltriethoxy silane, or any alkyl triaJkoxy silane (C6-1S).

[0067] According to other examples, a composition for mitigating dag on the animal hide may be configured to provide hydrophobicity with a contact angle in a range from about 100 degrees to about 130 degrees with the hide. [0079] According to further examples, a method of mitigating dag on the animal hide may include applying a composition to the animal hide by spraying, rinsing, coating, soaking, or dispersing such that a matrix is formed in situ with hair in the animal hide. The composition may include at least one reactive hydrophobic metal compound comprising a complex metal salt of a fatty acid and at least one amino group, at least one reactive binder, and at least one of a solvent or a reactive diluent

[0069] In various examples of the method of mitigating dag on the animal hide, formation of the matrix in situ with the hair may occur when the compound and the at least one reactive binder react at ambient temperature. In various examples of the method of mitigating dag on the animal hide, formation of the matrix in situ with the hair may occur when the compound and at least one reactive binder polymerize photocaialytically.

[0070] In some examples of the method of mitigating dag on the animal hide, the binder may have at least one functional component selected from the group consisting of a curing agent, a catalyst, a hardener, a crosslinking agent and combinations thereof. In various examples of die method of mitigating dag on the animal hide, the at least one reactive binder may have at least one functional component selected from the group consisting of epoxy, acrylate, amine, isocyanate, hydroxy], hydroxy! amine, alcohol, vinyl, ally!, cyanoacrylate, and combinations thereof. In further examples of the method of mitigating dag on the animal hide., the reactive diluents are selected from the group consisting of cyclohexene oxide, and crosslinking agents, wherein the crosslinking agents include one of:

aminoethylaminopropyhriethoxy si lane, glycidylpropyltriethoxy si lane, aikyl tri

(diaikylketoxime) silane, octyltriethoxy silane, iso octyltriethoxy silane, iso butyltriethoxy silane, or any a!kyl trialkoxy silane (C6- 18). [0071] in other examples of the method of mitigating dag on the animal bide, the least one reactive binder may be selected f>am the group consisting of polyurcthane, epoxy, polyurea, polyamide, polyester, polysiloxane, polyacrylate, and combinations thereof, in further examples of the method of mitigating dag on the animal hide, the bi nder may be dituncttonal or polyfunctional.

[0072] According to further examples, a method of mitigating dag on the animal hide may include providing at least one reactive hydrophobic metal compound that comprises a complex metal salt of a fatty acid and at least one amino group* adding at least one reactive binder to the compound to form a mixture, combining the mixture with at least one of a solvent or a reactive diluent to form a sprayable solution; and spraying the solution on the animal hide such that a matrix is formed in situ with hair in the animal hide.

[0073] According to other examples, a system for preparing a dag mitigation composition may include a mixing chamber configured to mix at least one reactive hydrophobic metal compound having at least one metal salt of a fatty acid forming a complex with at least one amino group, a binder source, and at least one of a solvent source and a reactive diluent source.

[0074] in various examples, the system for preparing the dag mitigation composition may include a programmable controller coupled to the mixing chamber, the binder source, the solvent source and/or the reactive diluent source, where the controller may be configured to manage operations of the mixing chamber, me binder source, the solvent source and/or the reactive diluent source by executing one or more instructions. The instructions may include employing the binder source to provide at least one reactive binder selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, epoxy, polyurea, polyamide, polyester, polysiloxane, polyacrylate, and combinations thereof, forming a mixture by adding the at least one reactive binder to the compound, employing the solvent source to provide a solvent selected from the group consisting of ethanol, cyclohexane, cyclohexene oxide, and crosslinking agents, employing the reactive diluent source to provide a reactive diluent selected from the group consisting of cyclohexene Oxide and crosslinking agents, wherein the crosslinking agents include one of: aminoethyiarninopropyltriethoxy silane, glycidylpropyltriethoxy silane, aJkyl tri

(dtaikylketoxime) silane, octyltriethoxy silane, isooctyltriethoxy silane, iso butyl tnethoxy silane, or any alkyl trialkoxy silane (C6-18); and combining the mixture with at least one of the solvent or the reactive diluent to form a sprayable solution. In further examples of the system for preparing the dag mitigation composition, the composition may he dispersible on a substrate by spraying, coating, soaking, or brushing.

EXAMPLES

[0075] The following examples illustrate the method of mitigating dag on hair disclosed herein. The examples show selected applications of illustrative compounds according to the present disclosure. The contact angles observed in the examples are the angles where water meets the treated tissue paper, glass slides, hide, or leather. Typically, a contact angle smaller than 90° is considered hydrophUic and a contact angle larger than 90* is considered hydrophobic. As shown in the following examples, the observed contact angles exceed 90°, indicating hydrophobici ty of the matrix formed by the method and compositions of the present disclosure,

[0076] Example 1 : A two-liter reaction vessel fitted with mechanical stirrer may be charged with 400 grams of zinc stearate powder, 800 grams of n-ootyl tri ethoxy silane and

200 grams of tri octyl amine, and may be mixed well far 30 minutes. A homogenous spray able solution may be obtained. Then, 40 grams of an adhesion promoter

ammoethylaminopropyltriethoxy silane may be added to the solution. Finally, 40 grams of propyl polysilicate catalyst may be added and mixed well. The final solution may be applied to cattle by a sprayer, and may be (eft to cure for 3 hours. The final solution may further be applied to tissue paper, hide and glass slide. The measured contact angle may be found of 127°. The evaluation may be found to have excellent stability when immersed in water for 7 days. Several experiments based on different molar ratio (1:1, 2:1, 3:1 and 4.5:0.5) of zinc stearate such as trioctylamine may be carried out. The best hydrophobicity and shortest curing time may be obtained with 1 : 1 and 2: 1 molar ratios of zinc stearate.

[0077] Example 2: The reaction vessel (250ml) fitted with magnetic stirrer may be charged with 40 grams of zinc stearate powder and 20 grams of tri octyi amine, and may be mixed well for 30 minutes. A paste form may be formed. Then, 30 grams of ethanol may be added to the paste form with continuous mixing. A homogenous solution may be obtained. The formed spray able product may be applied to tissue paper, glass slide and hide, and left overnight to dry and cure. The evaluation may be found to have good hydrophobicity with a contact angle of 112° and excellent stability when immersed in water for 7 days.

[0078] Example 3: The reaction vessel (250ml) fitted with magnetic stirrer may be charged with 40 grams of zinc stearate powder, 3.4 grams of isophoron diamine, and 20 grams of ethanol, may be mixed well for 30 minutes. A homogenous paste may be obtained. 20 grams of n-octyl tri ethoxy silane as reacti ve diluent may be added to form a spray able homogenous solution. Then, 2.0 grams of 1,4-butane di glycidyi ether may be added as an adhesion promoter. Finally, 0.4 grams of propyl polysilicate catalyst may be added, mixed well and applied to tissue paper, hide and glass slide. The dag mitigating product may be left to cure for 4 hours. The measured contact angle may be 103° and showed excellent stability when immersed in water for 7 days. [0079] Example 4: The reaction vessel (250ml) fitted with magnetic stirrer may be charged with 40 grams of zinc stearate powder, 3.4 grams of isophoron diamine, and 20 grams of ethanol, and may be mixed weil for 30 minutes. A homogenous paste may be obtained, 20 grams of n-octyf tri ethoxy silane as reactive diluent may be added * and a spray able homogenous solution may be obtained. Then, 2.0 grams of 1 ,4 - butane di glycidyl ether may be added as adhesion promoter. Finally, 0.4 grams of propyl polysilicate catalyst may be added, mixed well and may be applied to tissue paper, hide and glass slide. The dag mitigating product may left to cure for 4 hours. The evaluation may be found to have good hydrophobicity with a contact angle of 103° and excellent stability when immersed in water for 7 days.

[0080] Example 5: The reaction vessel 250ml fitted with magnetic stirrer may be charged with 40 grams of zinc stearate powder and 40 grams of trioctylamine, and may mixed for 30 minutes.4 grams of aminoethyl amtnopropyl triethoxy silane and 4 grams of propylglycidylether may be added as the reactive ingredient binder and adhesion promoter, respectively. A homogenous spray able solution may be obtained. The obtained solution may be finally cured with 0.2 grams of propyl polysilicate catalyst, mixed well and may be applied to tissue paper, glass slides and hide, and left to dry and cure. The evaluation may be found to have good hydrophobicity with a contact angle of 121 °.

[0081] Example 6: To prepare an example dag mitigation composition, 20 grams of 10% by weight of zinc acetate may dissolved in a 1 : 1 ratio of water: ethanol, may be mixed with 20 grams sodium stearate 10% solution dissolved in a 1:1 ratio of watenethanol and may applied to tissue paper, glass slide and hide, and left to react overnight, lite soluble sodium stearate may react with zinc acetate to form in situ the insoluble Mnc stearate. The evaluation may be found to have a contact angle of 133° but, the stability may found to be less. [0082] Example 7: The reaction vessel may be charged with 20 grams of zinc stearate powder, and may be mixed with two grams of amine terminated po\y( 1 ,2- propyleneoxide) and 40 grams of ethanol. A homogenous viscous composition may be cured with 2 grams of commercial epoxy resin based on bisphenoi -A that may contain 10% of cresyl monoglycidyl ether. The homogenous composition may be applied to tissue, glass slide and hide, may left to cure For 24 hours. The evaluation may be found to have contact angle of i 05°.

[0083] Example 8: The reaction vessel (250ml) fitted with magnetic stirrer may be charged with 40 grams of zinc stearate powder, 5 grams of octylaraine, and 20 grams of ethanol, may be mixed well for 30 minutes. A homogenous paste may be obtained. 20 grams of isobutyl tri ethoxy silatie as reactive diluent may be added. Then; 4 grams of

aminoethylaminopropyltriethoxy silane and 4 grams of glycidylpropyl triethoxy silane may be added as adhesive promoter and binder respectively. A spray able homogenous solution may be obtained, and finally 0.4 grams of propyl polysilicate catalyst may be added to the solution, mixed well and may applied to tissue paper, hide and glass slide. The dag mitigating product may left to cure for 3 hours. The evaluation may be found to have contact angle of 121° with excellent stability when immersed in water for 7 days.

[0079] Example 9: 10 g of aluminium tris stearate may be mixed with 10 grams of n,n - diglyctdylaniline, 20 grams isooctyl triethoxy siiane and 10 of

aminoethylaminopropyltriethoxy silane for 30 minutes. Then, may be cured with 0.4 g of propylpolysilicatc as catalyst The spray able composition may be applied to tissue paper, glass slides and hide, left to cure overnight. The evaluation may be found to have measured contact angle of 126º.

[0085] Example 10: The reaction vessel (250mi) fitted stopper may be charged with 7,5 grams of zinc stearate powder and 20 grams of isobutyl tri ethoxy silane as reactive diluent, Then, 4 grams of cyano acrylate and 0.2 grams of propyfpolysilicate catalyst may be mixed well and applied to tissue paper, glass slide and hide. The reactive coating may he left cure for 3 hours- The evaluation may be found to have contact angle of 122° with good stability when immersed In water for? days.

[0086] Example 11: lite reaction vessel (250ml) fitted with stopper may be charged with 10 grams of zinc stearate powder, 20 grams of isobutyl tri ethoxy silane as reactive diluent, and 2 grams of hydroxy terminated poly (propylene oxide), may be mixed well for 10 minutes. Then, 2 grams of hexa methylene di isocyanate and 0.4 grams of propyl poiysilieate catalyst may he added, mixed well and applied to tissue paper, hide and glass slide, may left to cure ibr 2 hours. The evaluation may be found to have good hydrophobicity with a contact angle of 103° and excellent stability when immersed in water for 7 days.

[0079] In at least one other illustrative example, inexpensive reactive organic hydrophobic agents that react and/or bond with keratin, cysteine, melanin, and other amino acids may be used to form stable polymeric compositions. Application of the reactive hydrophobic agents to the animal's hair may cause the animal's hair to be hydrophobic and thus non-wet able, which may prevent accumulation of dags,

[0088] The terms "a" and "an* as used herein mean "one or more" unless the singular is expressly specified. Thus, for example, reference to "a base" includes a mixture of two or more bases, as well as a single base.

[0089] As used herein, "about" will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art and wilt vary to some extent depending upon the context in which it is used. If there are uses of the term which are not clear to persons of ordinary skill in the art, given the context in which it is used, "about" will mean up to, plus or minus 10% of the particular term. [0090] The terms "optional* and "optionally" wean that the subsequently described circumstance may or may not occur, so that the description includes instances where the circumstance occurs and Instances where it does not.

10091] Alkyl groups include straight chain and branched chain alkyl groups having from 6 to 18 carbon atoms, and typically from 6 to 18 carbons or, in some examples, from 6 to 16, 6 to 14, or 6 to 12....6 to 8 carbon atoms. Examples of straight chain alkyl groups include groups such as rt-hexyl, »-heptyl, and fl-octyl groups. to n-octadecyL Examples of branched alkyl groups include, but are not limited to iso~butyl, .vec-butyl, tert-hutyl, neopentyl, isopentyl, and 2,2-dimethy {propyl groups. Representative substituted alkyl groups may be substituted one or more times with substituenls such as those listed above and include, without limitation, haloalkyl (e.g., trifluoromethyl), hydroxyalkyl, thioalkyl, aminoalkyl,

alkylaminoalkyl, dialkylaminoalkyi, alkoxyalkyl, carboxyalkyl, and the like.

[0092] There is little distinction left between hardware and software implementations of aspects of systems; the use of hardware or software is generally (but not always, in that in certain contexts the choice between hardware and software may become significant) a design choice representing cost vs. efficiency tradeoffs. There are various vehicles by which processes and/or systems and/or other technologies described herein may be effected (e.g., hardware, software, and/or firmware), and that the preferred vehicle will vary whit the context in which the processes and/or systems and/or other technologies are deployed. For example, if an implementer determines that speed and accuracy are paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly hardware and/or firmware vehicle; if flexibility is paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly software implementation; or, yet again alternatively, the implementer may opt for some combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. [0093] The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments of the devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts, and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/or examples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will be understood by those within the art that each function and/or operation within such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples may be implemented, individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment, several portions of the subject matter described herein may be implemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), or other integrated formats. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, in whole or in part, may be equivalency implemented in integrated circuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or more computers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computer systems), as one or more programs running on one or more processors (e.g. as one or more programs running on one ox more microprocessors), as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, and mat designing the circuitry and/or writing the code for the software and/or firmware would be well within the skill of one of skill in the art in light of mis disclosure.

[0094] The present disclosure is not to be limited in terms of the particular embodiments described in mis application, which are intended as illustrations of various aspects. Many modifications and variations can be made without departing from its spirit and scope, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Functionally equivalent methods and apparatuses within the scope of the disclosure, in addition to those enumerated herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing descriptions. Such modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. The present disclosure is to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims, along with the foil scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is to be understood that mis disclosure is not limited to particular methods, systems, or components, which can, of course, vary, it is also to be understood mat the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting.

[0095] Those skilled in the art will recognize that it is common within the art to describe devices and/or processes in the fcshbn set forth herein, and thereafter use engineering practices to integrate such described devices and/or processes into data processing systems. That is, at least a portion of the devices and/or processes described herein may be integrated into a data processing system via a reasonable amount of experimentation. Those having skill in the art will recognize that a typical data processing system generally includes one or more of a system unit housing, a video display device, a memory such as volatile and non-volatile memory, processors such as microprocessors and digital signal processors, computational entities such as operating systems, drivers, graphical user interfaces, and applications programs, one or more interaction devices, such as a touch pad or screen, and/or control systems including feedback loops.

[0096] A typical manufacturing system maybe implemented utilizing any suitable commercially available components, such as those typically found in data

computingteommunication and/or network computing/communication systems. The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates different components contained within, or connected with, different other components, ft is to be understood that such depicted architectures are merely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures may be implemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively "associated" such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a functionality may be seen as "associated with" each other such mat the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermediate components. Likewise, any two components so associated may also be viewed as being "operably connected", or "operably coupled", to each other to achieve the desired functionality, and any two components capable of being so associated may also be viewed as being "operably couplabie", to each other to achieve the desired functionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but are not limited to physically connectable and/or physically interacting components and/or wirelessly interactable and/or wirelessly interacting components; and/or logically interacting and/or logically interactable components.

[0097] With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set form herein for sake of clarity.

[0098] It will be understood by those within the art mat, in general, terms used herein * and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as '"open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art mat if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation, no such intent is present, For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation hy the indefini te articles V or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e,g. t "a" and/or "an" should be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g. , the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, means at least two recitations;, or two or more recitations).

[0099] Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of

A, B, and C, etc." is used, in general, such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., " a system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and

8 together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of K B, or C, etc." is used, in general, such a construction is intended in the sense One having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g. . " a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of W A" or "B" or "A and B." [00100] In addition * where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of Nfarkush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.

100101 j As will be understood by one skilled in the art, for any and all purposes, such as in terms of providing a written description, all ranges disclosed herein also encompass any and al l possible subranges and combinations of subranges thereof. Any listed range can be easily recognized as sufficiently describing and enabling the same range being broken down into at least equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, tenths, etc. As a non-limiting example, each range discussed herein can be readily broken down into a lower third, middle third and upper third, etc. As will also be understood by one skilled in die art all language such as "up to," "at least" "greater than," "less than," and die like include the number recited and refer to ranges which can be subsequently broken down into subranges as discussed above. Finally, as will be understood by one skilled in the art, a range includes each individual member. Thus, for example, a group having 1-3 cells refers to groups haying 1, 2, or 3 cells. Similarly, a group having 1-5 cells refers to groups having 1 , 2, 3, 4, or 5 cells, and so forth.

[00102] While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.