Posted by AMSI USA on | Comments Off on Benefits of Silicone Antifoams
What is a Silicone Antifoam?
A silicone antifoam is typically made of hydrophobized silica finely dispersed within silicone fluid. This compound is often stabilized in the form of a water-based emulsion. Silicone antifoams are effective at foam control because of their strength at low concentrations, their chemical inertness, and their ability to rapidly spread over a foam film.
Advantages of Silicone Antifoams
Added before the formation of foam, antifoam agents prevent foaming in many types of industrial processes, including applications ranging from wastewater treatment to chemical manufacture to food processing.
Silicone antifoams are often the most efficient and economical products for controlling foaming issues for several reasons.
Economical:They tend to be effective at tiny dosage rates, thereby saving on operating costs.
Long-lasting: Silicone antifoams are a persistent and long-lasting type of foam suppression agent.
Low reactivity:Silicone antifoams are inert and less apt to react with chemicals that may be present in the process liquid.
Low surface tension:To facilitate their performance, silicone antifoams are designed to have a lower surface tension than the foaming liquid.
Versatility:Silicone antifoams are versatile and find utility in many types of applications, such as wastewater treatment, coatings, pulp processing and detergent manufacture.
Ease of use:Silicone antifoams are available in liquid form across a range of viscosities for ease of application. Powdered products are also available.
Fast acting:Designed to spread quickly, silicone antifoams provide fast and aggressive foam destruction.
Applications for Silicone Antifoams
Water and Wastewater Treatment
Silicone antifoams are used in many types of water and wastewater applications including aeration basins, equalization tanks, landfill leachate and evaporative treatment units.
Food Processing and Agriculture
Foam issues can occur within food and agricultural processing due to the presence of organic materials, mixing, chemical reactions, and pressurization. Silicone antifoam agents are used in many types of food processing, including products, fermentations, fruit & vegetable processing, dairy and beverage manufacturing.
Pulp and Paper
Water-based silicone emulsions make up the majority of modern brown stock washing antifoams. They enable foam control, improve drainage, and reduce carry-over to the paper machine.
Cleaning Products and Processes
Antifoams are found in floor polishes, carpet cleaners, detergents, sanitizing products, and other cleaning and janitorial products. Silicone antifoams are also important to efficiently produce these cleaning products and reduce foam during blending, bottling and clean-up.
High-Quality Silicone Antifoams from Applied Material Solutions
Silicone antifoaming agents are an efficient way to control foam in industrial liquid processing. These products help save time and money in water treatment, chemical manufacturing, food processing, and other industries.
Contact us today to learn more about Applied Materials Solutions’ world-class silicone antifoams. You can also call us at 262-723-6595, and our experts will gladly provide technical assistance.
Posted by AMSI USA on | Comments Off on Non-Silicone Defoamers
Foam is a common challenge in many industries, from chemical processing to food and beverage and more. Foam can hinder production processes, decrease product quality, and increase the risk of equipment damage. To address these issues, non-silicone defoamers are often used to eliminate or control foam.
What is a Defoamer?
Defoamers are a type of chemical additive used in a variety of industrial processes to prevent and reduce foam formation. Also known as anti-foaming agents, defoamers have a low surface tension and spread rapidly over foamy surfaces to destabilize air bubbles.
Because defoamers and antifoams share similar chemical characteristics, the terms are often used interchangeably; however, there is a difference between the two. Antifoams are typically added to prevent foam formation, whereas defoamers are added after the foam has already formed to break it down.
What is a “Non-Silicone” Defoamer?
A non-silicone defoamer is a type of defoamer that does not contain “free silicone” within its composition. This means that there is no silicone polymer freely floating in the body of the defoamer. Although small amounts of silicone may be present in some non-silicone defoamers, if present it is typically bound to the surface of the hydrophobic silica rather than being freely available. For example, think of non-alcoholic (NA) beer. Even though it’s marketed as being NA, non-alcoholic beer contains less than one percent of alcohol.
By contrast, a “silicone-free” defoamer is completely devoid of any silicone in its composition and is an alternative option for applications where silicone shouldn’t be present at all.
Some common types of non-silicone defoamers include:
Polymeric defoamers
Non-aqueous oil-based defoamers
Solvent-based defoamers
Water-based fatty alcohol emulsions
Non-aqueous synthetic (polyol) defoamers
Vegetable oil-based defoamers and emulsions
Non-Silicone Defoamer Benefits and Applications
Non-silicone defoamers offer many benefits, including:
Minimizes surface defects.For certain applications, non-silicone defoamers are the preferred choice due to concerns about silicones causing unwanted surface defects in dried films.
Reduces residue deposition. Compared to silicone products, non-silicone defoamers are often less likely to leave residue deposition.
Less damage to filtration membranes.Some types of non-silicone defoamers may be less likely to adversely affect filtration membranes, resulting in better filtration performance.
More cost-effective and available.Non-silicone defoamers are often less susceptible to drastic swings in price and availability. In the past, silicone materials have been subjected to price fluctuations and shortages, leading to a higher focus on the development of non-silicone alternatives.
Because of their many benefits, non-silicone defoamers are popular for a wide range of industries and applications, such as:
Latex
Coatings
Paints
Food industry
Chemical processing
Industrial wastewater
Non-Silicone Defoamers from Applied Material Solutions
When choosing the right defoamer for your application, it’s important to consider factors such as the type of foam generated and the timing of its production. In many situations, non-silicone defoamers are the ideal choice, offering several advantages such as minimized surface defects, reduced residue deposition, cost advantages, and more.
At Applied Material Solutions, we offer a range of quality non-silicone defoamer products to meet your foam control needs. As a leading manufacturer of foam control products, we can work with you to determine which of our products is best for your application. For more information about our non-silicone defoamers, contact us today.
Posted by AMSI USA on | Comments Off on Foam Control Solutions for the Food & Beverage Industry
AMSI is GFSI-certified.
Foam is produced when gas (e.g., air) is added and becomes stabilized within a liquid (often water) containing impurities and surface-active agents (surfactants). The molecules of surfactants form a film that traps gas bubbles, preventing them from dissipating as they would in a pure liquid. Whether the foam produced rises to the surface (macrofoam) or accumulates throughout the liquid solution (microfoam), it can cause product or process quality issues in many industrial applications.
Defoaming and antifoaming agents are compounds that are designed to minimize or mitigate foam production. They are used to destroy foam buildup and/or prevent foam formation. One of the industries that regularly relies on them is the food and beverage industry.
Below, we highlight the importance of defoamers and antifoams in the food industry as well as the typical applications in which they are used.
Importance of Food-Grade Antifoams & Defoamers
In the food and beverage industry, the formation of foam can have a number of negative effects on operations. For example:
It can cause product defects or quality issues.
It can slow or stall processing times.
It can prevent the proper filling of containers.
It can lead to equipment overflow.
It can trigger equipment malfunction.
It can produce unsafe working conditions.
By using food-grade antifoams and defoamers to prevent and/or destroy foam, facility owners and managers can keep foam buildup under control. As a result, they can benefit in the following ways:
Better product and process quality. The absence of foam means products are at a lower risk of damage or contamination, resulting in a higher product acceptance rate. Additionally, equipment is less likely to experience foam-rated issues, such as overflow or malfunction.
Smaller waste generation. Since fewer products are rejected, less waste is generated.
Lower production costs. Increasing product quality and equipment operation and decreasing waste generation can translate to reduced overall production costs.
Applications of Food-Grade Antifoams & Defoamers
Food-grade antifoams and defoamers find application in various food and beverage processing operations, including, but not limited to, the following:
Brine solution manufacture and usage
Dairy products production (e.g., cheese manufacture, recon milk, whey processing)
Grain processing and milling operations (e.g., soy protein isolates, wet corn milling)
Meat and poultry processing operations (e.g., defeathering, rendering, marinading)
Produce washing, transport, and preparation operations
If you would like to find out more about food-grade defoamers, watch this short video:
Food-Grade Defoamers & Antifoams at Applied Material Solutions
Need food-grade foam control solutions for your food or beverage processing facility? Turn to the experts at Applied Material Solutions.
At AMS, we offer an extensive selection of defoaming and antifoaming agents for a variety of industries and industrial applications. For the food and beverage industry, we offer the following food-grade products:
Silicone antifoams. These antifoaming agents combine hydrophobic silicone polymers and inorganic silicates. They are inert and organoleptically imperceptible when used to control foam, meaning they do not affect the sensory aspects (e.g., taste and odor) of the food products themselves. We offer variations that are water-based or non-aqueous, 10% to 100% active, and kosher-certified or Passover-certified (TRANS-100PK).
Non-silicone antifoams. These aqueous or non-aqueous antifoaming agents typically contain one or more of the following components: vegetable oils, mineral oils, natural waxes, synthetic polymers, esters, and silicates. They also often have surfactants added to improve their dispersibility. We can supply organic variations that are suitable for organic food processing operations.
Powdered antifoams. These powdered antifoaming agents are suitable for integration into powdered products that may foam up when water is added.
Posted by AMSI USA on | Comments Off on Why Should I Use Water-Based Defoamers?
Defoamers play a critical role in ensuring foam does not affect the quality of products and processes during industrial applications. They are available in many variations to suit different operations, including oil-based, surfactant-based, and water-based. Below, we focus on water-based defoamers, outlining what they are and what benefits they offer.
What Are Water-Based Defoamers?
As suggested by the name, water-based defoamers utilize water as the carrier, or continuous phase. They typically contain between 60% to 95% water. Many of them are technically oil-in-water emulsions, and therefore contain some form of fat or oil (e.g., mineral oils, vegetable oils, and natural or synthetic waxes). By using water as the carrier and presenting these active ingredients in an emulsified form, these defoamers can more easily disperse into water and water-based process media, and effectively suppress foam.
Advantages of Water-Based Defoamers
Compared to other types of defoamers, water-based defoamers offer a number of advantages, such as:
Lower cost. Water is the least expensive ingredient that can be added to a formulation, and water-based defoamers can sometimes be made from the byproducts of other manufacturing applications, making them cheaper and easier to produce.
Ease of Application. They often require minimal production equipment to dilute to lower concentrations, making them simpler to use.
Better performance. They easily disperse in water and water-based solutions to provide foam suppression and deaeration. Additionally, they do not typically contribute to deposition that can lead to equipment malfunction, product damage, or quality issues.
Broader compatibility. They are suitable for use in a wide range of industries and operations, from paper processing to industrial process water to wastewater treatment. They can provide defoaming action across a variety of temperatures (typically up to 160° F) and pH levels.
Greater environmental friendliness. Many water-based defoamers do not contain harmful components, and they tend to have little to no impact on the environment. Additionally, many variations can be considered biodegradable, thereby allowing for their use in more environmentally-sensitive applications.
Industrial Applications of Water-Based Defoamers
While water-based defoamers were first used in the paper industry, they have since found application in many other industries due to their low cost, environmental friendliness, biodegradability, and other advantageous properties. Today, in addition to the paper industry, they are commonly used in the following industries and applications:
Agriculture
Parts washing
Food and beverage
Chemical manufacture
Water and wastewater treatment
And more!
Water-Based Defoamers From Applied Material Solutions
Water-based defoamers are an effective, efficient, and eco-friendly solution for controlling foam formation and buildup. That’s why facility workers across a wide range of processing industries turn to them for their foam control needs.
>Looking for water-based defoamers for your facility? Look no further! Applied Material Solutions (AMS) has got you covered. We offer a broad selection of defoaming and antifoaming agents to suit different foam control applications. Whether you need water-based antifoams or defoamers for agricultural, food processing, or technology industry operations, we can supply you with an appropriate product.
To learn more about our products or discuss your antifoaming/defoaming requirements with one of our experts, contact us today.
Posted by AMSI USA on | Comments Off on Don’t Passover Our Antifoams
Many types of foods and ingredients foam during the production process. If foaming is permitted, it can alter the product’s appearance, manufacturing time, quality or performance. Food-grade antifoams and defoamers are used to prevent, control, remove or mitigate foam to ensure high-quality, consistent production.
Not only do these antifoams have to meet food safety regulations to ensure they’re safe for consumption, but they must also be certified kosher if they’re going to be used in kosher food products. This is especially important for Passover-certified products.
Meeting Kosher Requirements in Chemical Manufacturing
Some Jewish people follow precise Biblical laws regarding what they eat. These kosher guidelines are applied to the food itself, the materials and other food items that make contact with the food, and how the food is processed or prepared. There are three categories of kosher food:
Dairy: Dairy products must come from a kosher animal, be processed on kosher equipment, and include only kosher ingredients. It cannot be consumed with meat products or produced on equipment that processes meat.
Meat: Only meat from kosher animals (those that chew their cuds and have split hooves, such as cows, sheep, and goats, as well as certain domesticated fowl) can be eaten, as long as they are slaughtered and prepared in a kosher environment according to kosher guidelines. It cannot be consumed with dairy or processed on the same equipment.
Pareve: These are neutral foods, like fruit and vegetables, fish, eggs, coffee, and more, that can be eaten with meat or dairy. Pareve foods cannot be processed on equipment that also processes meat or dairy, or it is no longer pareve. If it makes contact with dairy, for example, it would be classified as such, and you would not be able to eat that item with meat.
Food-grade defoamers, antifoams, and treated silicas are usually considered pareve, which allows them to be included in kosher food products.
Why Kosher?
Even though only a small percentage of Jewish people in the United States follow kosher laws, it is a top label claim from a consumer standpoint. Even people who don’t follow Jewish dietary practices trust and like to see the kosher label, which is why more than 40% of packaged foods in the country are certified kosher. Many food producers benefit from using kosher materials and ingredients, and manufacturers that serve all aspects of the food industry—including packaging, additives, and more—strive to become kosher certified to meet consumer demand.
Passover-Certified Antifoams
Passover, the eight-day Jewish holiday honoring liberation from subjugation in Ancient Egypt, comes with specific dietary requirements that go beyond regular kosher guidelines. For those eight days, leavened products and any food made with spelt, oats, barley, wheat, and rye cannot be consumed—and that includes emulsifiers and additives derived from these grains.
At AMS, we offer Passover-certified food-grade antifoams. In concert with stringent rabbinical supervision, AMS manufactures kosher products that can be consumed during Passover and throughout the rest of the year. These include:
TRANS-10PK: a water-based 10% silicone antifoam
TRANS-100PK: a non-aqueous 100% active silicone antifoam compound
AMS manufactures silicone, non-silicone, and powdered food-grade antifoams and defoamers for use in fermentation, grain processing, fruit and vegetable washing, beverage manufacture, and more. Our kosher- and Passover-certified products meet the strict requirements mandated by Jewish dietary law, and we’re proud to offer these antifoams to our customers.
Contact us to learn more about how our food-grade antifoams can be a solution to your foaming problem.
Posted by AMSI USA on | Comments Off on Benefits of Hydrophobic Silica
Hydrophobic silicas are a unique class of materials with a wide variety of functional attributes and beneficial properties making it ideal for numerous applications ranging from adhesives, greases, and sealants to personal care and processing aid products. At Applied Material Solutions, we offer high-quality fumed and precipitated hydrophobic silicas to provide superior performance for your products.
Benefits of Hydrophobic Silica
Hydrophobic silica has several different benefits that make it a crucial ingredient in many different compounds across diverse industries. These benefits include:
Adsorbent. Hydrophobic silica adsorbs solid, liquid, and gaseous materials to easily convert liquids and pastes into powder. This allows for easier handling and dosing.
Anti-Blocking. Its anti-blocking properties prevent film sheets from sticking together due to static or other interactions.
Anti-Sagging. Hydrophobic silica increases sag resistance, making it especially useful for paints and coatings as it prevents them from drooping or running while wet.
Anti-Setoff. Hydrophobic silica prevents setoff, or the accidental transfer of ink between printed pages. It can be used to create anti-setoff sprays and powders.
Anti-Setting. It can be used in chemicals to slow pigment or paint dry times, especially on metallic surfaces. This is a key additive in paints and coatings, especially for use on larger or more complex projects that require more time for application.
Free Flow of Powders. Hydrophobic silica acts as an anti-caking material to prevent powders from caking or hardening. It controls the moisture to keep each particle separate and defined for free-flowing distribution or use.
Foam Control. Hydrophobic silica can be used as an active ingredient in defoamers, which reduce or minimize foam, making it ideal for adhesives, paints, food applications, and more.
Hydrophobicity Control. Hydrophobic silica naturally repels water and forces it to form droplets. Adding this material to compounds allows manufacturers to enhance hydrophobicity control in a product.
Mechanical and Optical Properties Improvements. Adding hydrophobic silica can improve the clarity, transparency, durability, and other attributes of materials.
Reinforcement. Hydrophobic silica reinforces the elastomeric properties of certain materials. It can increase the material’s tensile strength, resistance to tearing, and stabilization in the face of temperature changes.
Pigment Stabilization and Dispersion. Adding hydrophobic silica to pigments can make the liquid material more stable and easier to disperse evenly. This allows for a more reliable application of complex pigments.
Print Definition. Hydrophobic silica can reduce runoff, smudging, and other errors that reduce print definition and clarity. Inks with hydrophobic silica additives are clearer, crisper, and more precise.
Processability Improvements. Carefully adding quantities of hydrophobic silica to pigments, inks, sealants, and personal care products allows for more precise application and better processing.
Rheology Control. Hydrophobic silica can control the suspension of particles in water-based materials to ensure product consistency throughout the batch or container.
Thickening. It can thicken pigments, sealants, adhesives, and other products to prevent running and poor application control.
Thixotropy. Hydrophobic silica makes thick compounds thinner when they’re shaken, stirred, or otherwise disturbed. This temporary fluidity allows for easier mixing and preparation.
Suspension and Stability Behavior. Hydrophobic silica can stabilize complex fluid products and consistently suspend a mix of ingredients throughout the batch.
Choose Applied Material Solutions for Hydrophobic Silica
At Applied Material Solutions, our top-quality fumed and precipitated hydrophobic silicas offer reinforcement and enhanced performance for products across a diverse range of industries. Our state-of-the-art treated silica production facility allows us to produce large volumes and reduce delivery times for our customers. To learn more about the properties and applications of hydrophobic silica, check out our product page today.
Posted by AMSI USA on | Comments Off on What to Look for in a Foam Control Supplier
Antifoams and defoamers are vital for the safe, efficient operation of processes in a multitude of industries. Finding an experienced foam control supplier can save a great deal of hassle, as they are able to provide expert solutions catered to the unique needs of your project. Here are a few of the key factors to take into consideration when choosing a foam control supplier.
Industry Experience
The best foam control supplier will have experience working in your industry, as this ensures that they can meet the needs of the project and provide accurate guidance. Foam control products serve several important roles in the following industries:
Chemical Manufacture. Used to stabilize chemical formulations and maintain production rates.
Industrial Process Water. Increases efficiency and protects against hazardous conditions.
Paints, Inks, Coatings, and Adhesives. Speeds up production and prevents defects in paint and coating, craters in adhesives, and promotes even ink flow.
Landfill Leachate. Enables wastewater to be properly filtered or distilled.
Metalworking Fluids. Controlling foam allows for better lubrication and cooling.
Pulp and Paper Processing. Improved production flow and rates, allows for better chemical recovery, allows for better sheet formation and lower entrained air on paper machines.
Water Treatments.Prevent hazardous and slippery conditions, prevent cross-contamination and improve the overall treatment of water.
Food Processing. Prevents excessive foaming in processing, blending and bottling applications.
Wide Variety of Antifoams & Defoamers
Antifoams and defoamers are not “one size fits all” products. It is ideal to work with a supplier who provides a wide array of antifoam and defoamer options so that they can adapt to meet the needs of any type of application. A good selection will include the following:
Silicone Antifoams
This option will include products such as water-based antifoam emulsions, specialty silicone antifoams, and non-aqueous silicone antifoam compounds.
Non-Silicone Antifoams
There are a wide range of non-silicone antifoam options. These types of antifoams can be based on water, surfactants, organic solvents, or oils, including mineral and vegetable oils. Non-silicone antifoams may also include polymers and esters of various types.
Powdered Defoamers
Powdered defoamers are available in both food-grade and tech-grade options.
Food-Grade & Tech-Grade Options
Antifoams and defoamers intended for use in the food industry or in certain industrial settings must follow stringent regulations. Depending on the final application, these products may be organic, kosher and halal certified, or FDA and/or BfR compliant.
Knowledge of Considerations for Proper Use
In order to get the full benefit of antifoams and defoamers, the supplier must have an in-depth understanding of proper usage. Even something as simple as adding slightly too much antifoam may result in frustrating and time-consuming issues. Additionally, the supplier must be familiar with the regulations within a range of industries in order to ensure that they provide safe antifoams and defoamers appropriate to the desired application.
The following are some other key considerations a supplier should be aware of.
Chemical and Processing Compatibility
A reliable foam control supplier will be able to help choose the optimal antifoam or defoamer for your project, including providing samples for testing. This makes it possible to test for compatibility, as different products will vary in their performance depending on the specifics of the application.
Proper Application
The proper application technique will vary depending on the process. Foam control products will be most effective when they are added during a point that allows them to best disperse into the foaming liquid. In some cases it may be beneficial to add them at multiple points. Knowledgeable suppliers can provide guidance on when and how to add antifoams or defoamers for the best results.
Acceptable Levels of Foam
Not all processes require complete elimination of foam. Your supplier should be able to help you understand how much foam is acceptable within your process, so that you don’t spend more than you need to on foam control products.
Partner with Applied Material Solutions
Choosing the right foam control supplier ensures smooth operation for your business. At Applied Material Solutions, we are dedicated to providing high quality foam control solutions to resolve a range of processing challenges. To learn more about our capabilities, or to partner with us for your foam control needs, contact our experts today.
Posted by AMSI USA on | Comments Off on How Do Antifoaming Agents Work
For most fluid systems, foam control is a challenge to overcome. Pure liquids do not foam. In an aqueous system, contaminants such as surfactants, proteins, small solid particulates will form a stable foam in water. Foam will significantly reduce system efficiency where foam or entrained air is undesirable. To prevent foam problems and keep the process running smoothly, many applications will use an antifoam or defoamer.
What Is an Antifoam?
The chemistry of defoamers and antifoams are often similar, their main difference being timing of application. Defoamers are used to control existing foam while antifoams are used to prevent the formation of foam.
Typically, antifoams and defoamers are inert chemicals. They are comprised of a liquid, such as mineral oil, silicone, and/or hydrophobic polyol, and a hydrophobic solid, such as hydrophobic silica, ethylene-bis-stearamide, fatty acid, and/or fatty alcohol. An effective antifoam must be insoluble in the medium it is defoaming or it will not work. However, the antifoam must not be so incompatible as to cause deposition issues.
How Do Antifoaming Agents Work?
Two things are necessary for an antifoam or defoamer to work:
An Entry Coefficient greater than zero
A Spreading Coefficient greater than zero
These are expressed in the simple algebraic expressions below:
E = 𝑦w/a + 𝑦w/o + 𝑦o/a
S = 𝑦w/a – 𝑦w/o – 𝑦o/a
Where:
𝑦w/a = surface tension of the foaming liquid
𝑦w/o = interfacial tension between the defoamer and the foaming liquid
𝑦o/a = surface tension of the defoamer
The antifoam enters the interface between the air and the lamella, the bubble wall. The antifoam enters the bubble wall which is bridged by the antifoam droplet. This is called “bridging of the film,” and as the antifoam spreads the bubble wall is thinned. Once the antifoam has entered the lamella, a lens is formed by the antifoam on the lamella and begins to spread. The progressive spreading process reduces the thickness of the lens, the shape of which is altered by movements in the foam. Stresses occur until the lens breaks and the foam lamella ruptures. The resultant film is considerably less elastic than the surfactant film, which previously stabilized the lamella. This destabilization facilitates rupture of the lamella.
Antifoam Benefits
Foam can be highly damaging to fluid system functions and other industrial processes. It leads to operational impacts like:
Inconsistencies in product density
Damage to machinery or equipment used in production
Interference with separation or coating processes, diminishing product quality
Pump cavitation
Foam can cause problems across the entire production workflow due to downtime needed for foam related issues. Antifoams work to minimize the operational consequences of foam by preventing foam before it becomes a problem, thus saving time and money.
Antifoam Applications
Antifoams are used in a variety of applications.
Food Processing and Agribusiness
Food and agribusiness are susceptible to foam problems due to the levels of organic material processed, pressure, mixing, chemical reactions, and other process-related factors. Typical applications include:
Grain separation and processing
Fermentation
Fruit and vegetable washing and processing
Meat and poultry processing
Dairy products, beverages, brine systems, and more
Water Treatment
Foam control is critical in maintaining the safety and efficiency of municipal and industrial water treatment facilities. Antifoams prevent air or waterborne foam from developing during numerous steps of the treatment process. Antifoams are used in applications such as:
Aeration basins
Boiler water treatment
Clarifiers
Cooling towers
Equalization tanks
Evaporative water treatment
Final effluent
Landfill leachate
Manure pits
Membrane Bioreactors
Moving Bed Biofilm Reactors
Sequencing Batch Reactors
Paint, Inks, Coatings, & Adhesives (PICA)
Foam is formed due to the rigorous mixing, grinding, and chemical reactions involved in the production of PICA materials. Unmanaged foam leads to increased production times, reduced operational efficiency, and physical product defects like craters, fisheyes, and pinholes. To prevent these setbacks, antifoam is used in applications including:
Polymer/pigment grinding
Package filling
Shearing or spraying
Chemical Manufacturing
Antifoams and other foam control agents are used extensively throughout all stages of the chemical manufacturing process to regulate foam production.
Cleaning Compounds & Processes
Foam control products play a critical role in the efficacy of both the production of cleaning products and the products themselves. They are applied in different capacities in manufacturing and use of:
Laundry detergents
Carpet cleaners
Personal care products
Soap and detergent
Applied Material Solutions Antifoaming Agent
Applied Material Solutions offers silicone and non-silicone antifoam solutions for a variety of applications. Our team is here to optimize the timing, location, and frequency of adding antifoam to your process. For more information on foam formation, associated problems, and preventative measures, download our eBook now. If you need help selecting an antifoam for your process or to see samples, contact us today.
Posted by AMSI USA on | Comments Off on What Is a Defoamer?
For most fluid systems, foam control is an interesting challenge to overcome. Pure liquids do not foam or will not form a stable foam. In an aqueous system, contaminants such as surfactants, proteins, small solid particulates will form a stable foam in water. Foam will significantly reduce the efficiency of a given system where foam or entrained air is undesirable. To prevent these problems with foam, many applications will use defoamers to keep the process running smoothly.
What Is a Defoamer? How Does It Work?
Defoamers are one of two categories of foam control agents, the other category being antifoams. The chemistry of defoamers and antifoams are often similar. The main difference is the intended use: defoamers are used to control existing foam and antifoams are used to prevent the formation of foam.
Typically, defoamers are inert chemicals. Defoamers are comprised of a liquid, such as mineral oil or silicone, and a hydrophobic solid, such as hydrophobic silica, ethylene-bis-stearamide, fatty acid, and/or fatty alcohol. An effective defoamer must be insoluble in the medium it is defoaming.
Two things are necessary for a defoamer to work: (1) an Entry Coefficient greater than zero, and (2) a Spreading Coefficient greater than zero. These are expressed in the simple algebraic expressions below:
E = 𝑦w/a+𝑦w/o-𝑦o/a
S = 𝑦w/a-𝑦w/o-𝑦o/a
Where:
𝑦w/a = surface tension of the foaming liquid
𝑦w/o = interfacial tensions between the defoamer and the foaming liquid
𝑦o/a = surface tension of the defoamer
The defoamer enters the interface between the air and the lamella, the bubble wall. Once the defoamer has entered the lamella, a lens is formed by the defoamer on the lamella and begins to spread. The progressive spreading process reduces the thickness of the lens, the shape of which is altered by movements in the foam. Stresses occur until the lens breaks and the foam lamella ruptures. The resultant film is considerably less elastic than the surfactant film which previously stabilized the lamella. This destabilization facilitates rupture of the lamella. It is important to note the bubble wall is bridged by the defoamer droplet. This is called “bridging of the film.” As the defoamer spreads, the bubble wall is thinned.
Defoamer Benefits
Defoamers are necessary in many industries because of the issues created by foam. Stable foam makes it harder for a fluid system to function as intended and causes product loss and potentially unsafe conditions in a facility. Other issues caused by foam include:
Variations in density that make it difficult to generate consistent package weights
Direct damage to equipment, resulting in the need for repairs and downtime
Interference with certain separation or coating processes, diminishing the quality of the product
Pump cavitation
The defoamer type varies depending on the application and the materials used to make the defoamer. Defoamers can be mineral oil based, silicone based, glycol based, and polyol based. Once the appropriate tests are done to determine which type of defoamer best suits the needs of a given application, foam will no longer impede production.
Defoamer Applications
Many industrial processes have turned to defoamers to solve their problems. These foam control products are used in industries such as:
Food Processing and Agribusiness. Fermentations, fruit and vegetable washing and processing, and meat and poultry processing all use defoamer to fight foam caused by organic compounds present in these facilities.
Water treatment. Defoamers are used in multiple water treatment applications to remove air or waterborne foam.
Pulp & paper. Defoamer aids in eliminating foam caused by the chemical processes involved in pulp and paper production.
Paint & coatings. Defoamer eliminates foam caused by mixing, grinding, and chemical reactions involved in producing paint and coatings.
Chemical manufacture and cleaning compounds. Defoamer is used regularly in the chemical and cleaning compound manufacturing processes to remove foam.
Applied Material Solutions’ Defoaming Agent
Applied Material Solutions specializes in effective foam control technologies tailored specifically to fit your process. Our antifoams and defoamers are created with individual industrial applications in mind, taking into account the unique conditions and contaminants present in each. To learn more about our comprehensive foam control plans, read our ebook or contact us today.
The formation of foam in aqueous processes and products—such as flume water for the transport of vegetables—can hinder or halt many industrial processing operations. Antifoams are chemicals which prevent the formation of foam, whereas defoamers control existing foam. The right antifoam must be applied properly to prevent foam formation and avoid additional problems in the production process.
The following article provides Applied Material Solution’s top tips regarding the proper use of antifoam products.
Survey the System
Before applying an antifoam to your operation, it’s important to thoroughly survey system processes to determine where and when the antifoam would serve most effectively.
Is it an aqueous or non-aqueous system?
What is causing the foam?
Protein
Starch
Soap formation
Is the foam solid stabilized?
Get water flow diagrams and process flow diagrams when available, or draw your own. You must understand the process and what is being made. You need to know:
Where the water came from.
Where the water is going.
For batch operations, what are the batch sizes? For continuous operations, what is the production rate?
What is the pH of the system? Take note of any pH changes throughout the production process.
Are there any chemical restrictions to the system?
What is the temperature of the system? Take note of any temperature changes throughout the production process.
What are the points of high and low tabulation?
Locate the points where air may be released.
Locate the points where air can be introduced.
Are there any filtration membranes used in the process?
Are there any regulatory requirements involved?
Evaluate the Point of Addition
The place and time at which antifoams should be added depends on the specifics of the process. However, as a general rule, antifoams should be applied at the point that allows for maximum dispersion through the foaming liquid and often prior to the onset of foaming. To obtain the best results, some processes may necessitate the addition of antifoam at multiple points.
Peristaltic and low-flow metering pumps are effective tools for automating the dispensing operation. Facility workers and/or vendors can set up pumps to add a predetermined concentration of antifoam/defoamer per minute, thus optimizing the performance of the foam control agent.
Test the Antifoaming Agent in Advance
Antifoams are available in multiple types of formulations of varying chemistries, each of which performs differently. When choosing a new antifoam product, it is important to understand the process and where foam poses an issue. It is critical, as previously stated, to survey the system.
While the answers to the Survey questions can help ensure the appropriate selection of the antifoam, thorough testing is also essential for determining the antifoam’s compatibility and performance within a particular application. When testing the antifoaming agent, simulate the expected operating conditions, especially the temperature, by using a medium that is similar—if not identical—to the actual foaming medium. When possible, the actual foaming medium is best.
Determine How Much Foam Is Okay
While some processing operations can handle a small amount of foam, others require complete foam elimination. In either case, the end user must determine whether a potential antifoaming agent can successfully control foam without undermining the quality of the product or process. As long as operation continues as expected, some foam in the process would just be an appearance issue, yet present no real issue or problem to the production operation.
Quality Antifoam Products from Applied Material Solutions
At Applied Material Solutions (AMS), we offer an extensive selection of antifoams and defoamers across a range of silicone and non-silicone formulations.
Our silicone antifoam products include:
Non-aqueous silicone antifoam compounds
Specialty silicone antifoams
Water-based antifoam emulsions
Our non-silicone antifoam products include:
Oil-based antifoams
Surfactant-based and polymer-based antifoams
Ester-based antifoams
Water-based antifoams
AMS can assist customers with the selection of an optimal antifoam for their unique process. Once an antifoam solution is chosen, we can also help optimize the location, frequency, and antifoam dosage to ensure the best results.
For more information about our antifoaming products and services, contact us today.
Many types of foods and ingredients foam during the production process. If foaming is permitted, it can alter the product’s appearance, manufacturing time, quality or performance. Food-grade antifoams and defoamers are used to prevent, control, remove or mitigate foam to ensure high-quality, consistent production.
Hydrophobic silica
