Silicone Foam Control

Silicones are especially effective in the use of foam control. Silicone antifoams are specialized chemical formulations designed to control and prevent the formation of foam or bubbles in various industrial processes and products. These antifoams are typically composed of silicone polymers, which are chemically inert and possess a unique ability to spread over the surface of foam bubbles, causing them to collapse or coalesce.

Silicone foam control either acts to control or prevent foam from forming or can react with foam to help minimize it. Silicone foam control products come in a variety of forms from fluids, emulsions, and compounds to powders.

Univar Solutions offers a wide variety of silicone foam control products from world-leading silicone supplier Dow that are used to perform as processing aids, defoamers, foam preventers and deaeration in such industries as food & beverage processing, cleaning products, water treatment, metal & glass working, textile production, agriculture, and other chemical processing.

Silicone antifoams work by disrupting the foam lamellae (thin liquid films that separate foam bubbles) and promoting the coalescence of bubbles, leading to the collapse of the foam structure. They are effective at low concentrations and offer several advantages, including thermal stability, resistance to degradation by microorganisms, and low toxicity.

Silicone antifoams find widespread applications in various industries due to their excellent defoaming properties. In the fermentation industry, they are used to prevent excessive foaming in processes like alcohol production, antibiotics manufacturing, and enzyme production. The pulp and paper industry employs silicone antifoams to control foam formation during pulping and papermaking processes, improving operational efficiency and product quality.

Water treatment facilities utilize silicone antifoams to control foaming in aeration tanks and clarifiers, enhancing the efficiency of treatment processes. Paints, coatings, and inks benefit from the addition of silicone antifoams, which prevent foam formation during manufacturing, handling, and application, ensuring consistent product quality and performance.

Detergents and cleaning products often incorporate silicone antifoams to prevent excessive foaming, which can cause overflow and spillage during use. The petroleum industry relies on silicone antifoams in various refining processes, such as desalting, distillation, and catalytic cracking, to control foam formation and improve process efficiency.

Silicones offer critical advantages over organic antifoams which include:

• Extended persistence - Silicones are less soluble so they suppress foam for longer periods of time compared to mineral oils which can dissipate quickly. This means greater efficiency and less frequent reapplication.
• Lower cost-in-use - Silicones are effective at dosages 5-10 times lower than mineral oils, reducing amount needed for foam suppression leading to significant cost savings.
• Stability – Silicones are more resistant to temperature fluctuations, pH changes, and chemical attacks. They outlast mineral oils for prolonged antifoaming.
• Fewer compatibility issues - Silicones are less reactive so there are fewer formulation challenges. This makes them easier to work with.
• Non-toxic and non-bio accumulative - Silicones are environmentally safe with no microbial biodegradability concerns.