Antifoamers and defoamers are used industrially to eliminate foaming of processing liquids. Defoamers eliminate existing foam whereas antifoamers prevent formation of further foam.
Industrial Antifoamer Applications
- Textile processing
- Corrugated board and paper production
- Waste water treatment
- MBR waste water treatment
- Ultrafiltration and Nanofiltration of wastewaters
- Automotive coating and painting
- Food processing
- Fermantation
- Oil and gas drilling
- Glue or lacquer surface control
- Sugar refinery
- Paint
- Metalworking fluids
- Antifreeze coolants
Antifoamer / defoamers are made of different chemistry and composition depending on the process or product medium. These can be water or solvent based for the specific application. PDMS (silicon oil) defoamers are widely used but residue remained is undesired for several applications.
Non-silicon chemistry is mostly made of esters, polyesters, pollester polyols or polymers. Applications where water is not desired uses solvent – mineral oil based concentrated defoamers. Some defoamers contain htdrophobic particles and others do not.
