Defoamers : Typology, Production, and Applicability

You rather look for a layer of foam in your cup of coffee, but they pose a serious menace to industrial solutions and processes, and to the environment at large. Hence on the formation, a chemical solution is used to inflict a knock-down effect on it, which is referred to as defoamer.

Defoamers are commonly used in industrial processes and products such as wood pulp, paper, paint, industrial wastewater treatment, food-processing, oil drilling, machine tool industry, oil-cutting tools, hydraulics etc.

.Depending upon the ingredients that go into the production of defoamer, they can be classified as follows:-

Oil-based defoamer generally contain oils that are insoluble in the foaming medium, such as mineral and vegetable oils. Wax and hydrophobic silica may be added to boost performance by improving emulsification and facilitating widespreadness in the foaming medium. These are heavy duty defoamer used in tackling down the surface foam.

Powder defoamer are in principle oil-based defoamer on a particulate carrier like silica. These are added to powdered products like cement, plaster, adhesives, and detergents.

 
Water-based defoamer are manufactured by dispersing different types of oils and waxes in a water base. These are normally best as deaerators, used for releasing entrained air.

Silicone-based defoamer could be oil-based or water-based polymers containing silicon glycols, modified silicone fluids, and poly-dimethyl siloxanes antifoaming agents. They are suitable for non-aqueous foaming systems in crude oil refineries. 

EO / PO based defoamers contain polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol copolymers. Due to their good dispersing properties, they deal with deposition issues. 

Alkyl poly acrylate defoamers are used in non-aqueous systems of petroleum distillates for air release than the breakdown of surface foam.

There are specific Defoamer for specific issues, hence it is advisable that proper discretion is exercised possible only by means of expert guidance and proper knowledge. Using the wrong kind of defoamer can have adverse or no effect at all.