Defoamers: An Introduction
Originally, this article was written about five years ago, and with most things, there have been
advancements in new technologies for the use of defoamers and antifoams, as well as the
composition of the additives due to greater regulatory restrictions and the need for different
technology for different uses. There is some essential information below and more can be found
in the endnotes.
Both antifoams and defoamers are used for foam control. Given their similarities in function,
they often have similar chemistries. The main difference between them is the timing of
application. In order to prevent it, antifoams are designed to be applied before the formation
of foam, while defoamers are designed to be applied after foam formation in order to destroy
it. Below, we provide a closer look at antifoam and defoamer chemistry.
For this article, defoamers and antifoam agents are focused on use in paints, inks, adhesives and
even construction products. Defoamers are very important in the growing market of oil recovery
applications but fall outside of the scope of this paper. There are food-grade defoamers and
even ones designated as kosher or halal, but they are mentioned but not discussed here.
Dependent upon the application and performance requirements, defoamers consist of
polydimethylsiloxanes and other silicones, insoluble oils, waxes, stearates and glycols, as well as
inorganics, such as silicates and talc. The regulatory requirements of zero VOC, or close to it,
have changed the landscape of defoamers. The further development of bio-based products has
also resulted in variations which might include the use of a soy-based oil instead of a non-
vegetable oil.
There are many types of antifoams available, and they are often lumped into two broad
categories:
Silicone antifoams are normally composed of hydrophobized silica that is finely dispersed within
a silicone fluid. The resulting compound is then stabilized into a water-based or oil-based
emulsion. These antifoams are highly effective due to their general chemical inertness, potency
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even in low concentrations, and ability to spread over a foam film. If needed, they can be
combined with other hydrophobic solids and liquids to improve their defoaming properties.
Non-silicone antifoams generally contain surfactants, which enhance their dispersal capabilities
and effectiveness in foaming water. They can be water-based, oil-based, or surfactant-based.
These antifoams can be used for a wide range of industries. Compared to silicone antifoams,
they are sometimes more readily biodegradable and less prone to causing certain problems such
as discoloration, spotting, and negative membrane effects.
As far as new technologies, examples are:
FOAMSTAR® ST 2400 is a series of defoamers based on new defoamer chemistry developed and
patented by BASF. It is the first new defoamer chemistry in over 30 years. It is based on a hyper-
branched polymer with a 3-dimensional star-shaped structure containing hydrophilic as well as
hydrophobic elements. FoamStar® technology breaks down foam on a molecular level. It acts as
a unique surfactant interacting with the foam-related surfactants and destabilizes the foam
bubbles.
Soy-based defoamers are the preferred choice for biobased defoamers but can also be made
from other vegetable sources instead of petroleum. Besides providing bio preferred labeling,
there is a push for low or no VOC products.
Processing with defoamers
In industrial processes, foams pose serious problems. They cause defects on surface coatings.
They prevent the efficient filling of containers. Some of the sources of foam formation include:
• Filtration through a sieve or anything with air on the surface
• Introduction of air through substrate wetting (wood coatings, other highly porous
substrates)
• Inclusion of air through agitation during production, filling, mixing of 2-pack systems.
Often high viscosity (epoxies, adhesives)
• Air inclusion on pigment surface resulting in poor wetting of pigments
• Application: Roller, spraying, brushing
It is suggested that the following is considered if you require a more thorough understanding of
the subject of foam generation, defoamer composition, mechanisms, etc.:
• Test Methods
✓ Paints
✓ Inks
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✓ Adhesives
✓ Construction Products
• Selection Guidelines
✓ Process
✓ Application
• Foam stabilization
• Composition and Mode of Action of Defoamers
• Coatings Defects
Chemical defoamers similarly have analogous methods, which are in the form of composition
rather than processes. In-process, they can either consolidate small foam to larger bubbles
which can then break at the air/liquid interface and break bubbles during mixing and shear.
During application, they disrupt the bubble wall, or cause increased drainage. In many cases,
the choice of a chemical defoamer is a balance between highest efficiency and lowest undesired
side effects, coupled with a preferred mechanical process, if available.
Mechanical dissipation of foam, as well as the chemical elimination of foam, is important in
processing. Bubble consolidation is achieved with lower shear mixing, which will put the
microfoam in contact, especially at surface (vortex) and foam will consolidate to larger bubbles
that break more easily. Vibration using a rotosieve or other vibration tools will reduce the
surface tension at the air/liquid interface in processes such as filtration of latexes; utilizing a
very fine mist of water spray, the bubble walls will be disrupted and break them; or vacuum
such as a RotoVap or Ross Mill homogenizer and vacuum.
blue liquid with foamThere are many considerations in the choice of a defoamer. For paints,
persistency over a long shelf-life is required, but the defoamer cannot affect color uniformity,
such as rub-up. For water-borne flexographic inks, the preferred defoamers are based on glycols
and polyglycol (ethers). Silicone defoamers are used in solvent-borne and high viscosity systems
and are used more in the grind stage of pigment dispersion rather than in the letdown.
In summary, defoamers are essential ingredients in a paint formulation avoiding foam formation
and stabilization in water-borne as well as solvent-borne paints. Proper selection of defoamer
quality and quantity is essential for optimal defoamer performance. Defoamers compete with
foam stabilizing ingredients in order to be effective in a coating system. The proper defoaming
results in paint quality properties, and it is important that test methodologies are appropriate
for the specific application or process.
