Grinding defoamer: "Foam terminator" in the field of industrial grinding
In the grinding production process of materials such as coatings, inks, and ceramics, high-speed stirring
and shear force often lead to a large amount of foam. These stubborn foams will not only reduce production
efficiency, but also may cause quality problems such as coating defects and uneven composition. As the "invisible
guardian" among industrial additives, grinding defoamers are relying on four core advantages to become an
indispensable "defoaming weapon" in modern grinding processes.
1. Four core advantages: a full-dimensional solution for accurately combating foam
Instantaneous defoaming ability: a "foam assassin" with millisecond response
Defoamer molecules quickly penetrate the foam liquid film through ultra-low surface tension (as low as 20 mN/m),
destroy the surface elastic film, and cause the foam to break at the moment of contact. Experiments show that high-efficiency
defoamers can eliminate more than 90% of foam within 5 seconds. Some products use microparticle defoaming technology,
using nano-scale hydrophobic particles (such as modified silica) as "defoaming nuclear bombs" to adsorb foam surfactants and
accelerate liquid film drainage.
Long-term antifoam stability: 12-hour continuous "foam firewall"
Fluorine-containing or polyether defoamers will form a hydrophobic coating after the liquid film breaks, which continuously
inhibits the generation of new foam. In the circulating grinding system, the antifoaming time can cover the continuous operation
cycle of the equipment to ensure production stability.
Adaptability to extreme environments: "all-round warrior" of high temperature and strong acid and alkali
Some defoamers can withstand extreme temperatures from -20℃ to 150℃, suitable for frozen grinding (such as food additives)
and high-temperature sintering processes (such as ceramic glazes). Its chemical resistance makes it stable in strong acid environments
with pH=1 or strong alkali environments with pH=14, and is widely used in complex systems such as metal surface treatment liquids and
electroplating liquids.
Multi-system compatibility: the "master key" of formulation engineers
Non-ionic defoamers avoid reactions with emulsifiers and dispersants in water-based or oil-based systems through steric hindrance
stabilization mechanisms, and are compatible with a variety of resin systems such as acrylic, polyurethane, and epoxy, achieving flexible
applications.
2. Six major application scenarios: full coverage from laboratories to industrial giants
Coatings and inks
During the grinding process of coatings and inks, foam can cause defects such as shrinkage and color difference.
Mineral oil defoamers (added at 0.1%-0.5%) can quickly eliminate foam and improve coating quality. For example,
in the grinding process of original automotive paint, defoamers can eliminate foam by more than 98%.
Ceramic glaze production
The bubbles in ceramic glazes can significantly reduce the gloss of the glaze. Polyether-modified siloxane defoamers can
reduce the glaze defect rate of sanitary ware and other products by about 40% by destroying the foam structure, thereby
improving the yield rate.
Preparation of electronic pastes
Foams in electronic pastes (such as solar cell silver paste) can affect the uniform dispersion of conductive particles.
Fluorine-containing defoamers (nano-dispersion) can ensure the stability of the paste, increase the conductivity by 15%,
and improve the efficiency of photovoltaic cells.
Synthesis of pharmaceutical intermediates
During the grinding process of pharmaceutical intermediates, foams may carry impurities and contaminate the product.
Silane defoamers (sterile grade) can effectively eliminate foam and increase the purity of raw materials such as antibiotics
to more than 99.8%.
Food processing
During the grinding and homogenization process of foods such as peanut butter and chocolate sauce, foam will reduce
production efficiency. Natural phospholipid defoamers (FDA certified) can increase production capacity by about 30% while
ensuring food safety.
Environmental water treatment
In industrial wastewater treatment, the foam generated during the aeration process will affect the flocculation effect. Modified
polysiloxane defoamers can quickly eliminate foam and increase the COD removal rate of wastewater by 22%, helping to meet
environmental protection standards.
3. Future trends: Green and intelligent defoaming revolution
Bio-based defoamers
Defoamers are prepared using renewable raw materials such as rapeseed oil and starch. For example, sucrose ester defoamers
have been applied on a large scale in water-based coatings, with a biodegradability rate of more than 95%, which is in line with
environmental protection trends.
Intelligent responsive defoamers
Develop temperature-sensitive or pH-sensitive defoamers, such as defoamers for medical dressings that release drugs at human
body temperature (37°C), or defoamers for building materials that automatically adjust with the pH changes during the concrete
hardening process.
Nanocomposite technology
Graphene/titanium dioxide composite defoamers simultaneously achieve defoaming and photocatalytic self-cleaning functions,
which can be applied to the field of self-repairing coatings to expand the versatility of materials.
4. Selection Guide: Find your "exclusive defoaming solution" in three steps
System analysis
Confirm that the grinding medium is a water-based, oil-based or solid system, and measure the pH value and temperature range
of the system to match the tolerance of the defoamer.
Foam type diagnosis
Distinguish between mechanical foam (physical) and chemical reaction foam (such as produced during fermentation), and select the
corresponding defoaming mechanism.
Compatibility test
Verify the effect of defoamers on the performance of finished products (such as adhesion and gloss) through small tests to ensure that
they do not interfere with the original formula function.
Grinding defoamers are not only "foam killers", but also "invisible promoters" of process optimization. With the continuous progress of
materials science, defoamers will develop towards green, intelligent and functional integration in the future, providing stronger support
for cutting-edge fields such as precision manufacturing, biomedicine, and new energy. The next time you see a smooth and flawless car
paint or a delicate ceramic product, it may be these "molecular-level foam hunters" who are silently guarding the quality behind the scenes.
