Water-based antifoam agent: ingredients and functions of the big reveal

Water-based antifoam agent: ingredients and functions of the big reveal

Foam often causes many inconveniences and problems in daily life and in many industrial production processes. Water-based dedoamer as a kind of effective elimination of foam in the water-based system of the magic material, came into being. So, what exactly are the components of water-based defoamers? These components have what unique role? Let us explore the main components of water-based defoamer and its mystery.

The main components of water-based defoamer include active ingredients, auxiliary components, carriers and additives. Among them, the active ingredient is the core part of its antifoaming effect. Polysiloxane is one of the commonly used active ingredients, like dimethyl silicone oil has a very low surface tension, and this feature enables it to quickly spread out on the foam surface, as if it has laid a layer of “destructive carpet” on the foam film. It will replace the liquid in the foam film, causing the foam film to gradually become thinner and eventually rupture, thus efficiently eliminating the foam, and its defoaming ability is strong and long-lasting, and can maintain the stability of the aqueous system over a long period of time, avoiding a large number of foams from being generated again. Polyether is also an important active ingredient, such as polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene ether. By skillfully adjusting the molecular structure and molecular weight of polyethers, defoamers with different properties can be obtained. It has good water solubility and surface activity, can significantly reduce the surface tension of the aqueous system, from the root to destroy the stability of the foam, to achieve rapid defoaming at the same time, but also has a more excellent foam inhibition performance, effectively inhibit the generation of new foam.

Auxiliary components in the water-based defoamer also plays an indispensable role. The presence of emulsifiers helps to evenly disperse the active ingredients in the aqueous system to form a stable emulsion. Common emulsifiers such as Span series (e.g. Span - 60, Span - 80) and Tween series (e.g. Tween - 60, Tween - 80) can reduce the surface tension at the oil-water interface, so that the oil phase and the water phase can be perfectly integrated to ensure that the defoamer can fully play its role in the aqueous system. Dispersants can make the solid particles or droplets in defoamers evenly dispersed in aqueous systems, preventing them from agglomerating and precipitating. Like sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium pyrophosphate and other dispersants, through the adsorption on the particle surface, increase the electrostatic repulsion between particles or spatial resistance, so that the particles always remain dispersed, to ensure the stability of the defoamer performance.

Carrier and additives are also an important part of water-based defoamer. Water as the main carrier, defoamer provides a good dispersion medium, so that it can be conveniently added to the aqueous system, and has a high degree of compatibility with the aqueous system. Thickeners can adjust the viscosity of defoamer, such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, xanthan gum, etc., which can increase the viscosity of the system, so that the defoamer in the aqueous system has the appropriate mobility and stability, to avoid the phenomenon of delamination or sedimentation in the process of storage and use. In addition, in order to prevent the water-based defoamer in the storage and use of bacteria and mold, affecting its performance and service life, usually also add an appropriate amount of preservatives, such as sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, etc., so as to ensure that the defoamer can be maintained for a long time to maintain a good working condition.

Water-based defoamer with its unique combination of ingredients, in water-based coatings, printing ink, paper, textile printing and dyeing, sewage treatment and many other areas are playing an extremely important role. It can effectively improve product quality, enhance production efficiency, reduce the foam problem brought about by energy consumption and waste of resources and other adverse effects.