Silicone Defoamer
Silicone defoamer is a viscous white emulsion that has been employed in various industrial sectors since the 1960s. However, its significant and widespread development gained momentum in the 1980s. Serving as a vital silicone-based additive, its application spans a wide range of fields and has garnered increasing attention from various industries.
Silicone defoamer plays an essential role in the production processes of the chemical industry, papermaking, paint production, food processing, textile manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and more. Its primary function is to eliminate foam on the liquid surface during production, leading to improved performance in processes such as filtration, washing, extraction, distillation, evaporation, dehydration, and drying. Additionally, it enhances separation, gasification, liquid drainage, and other essential aspects, ensuring the efficiency and capacity of various material storage and processing containers.
Characteristics of Silicone Defoamer
Wide range of applications: Due to the special chemical structure of silicone oil, it is neither compatible with water or substances containing polar groups, nor is it compatible with hydrocarbons or organic substances containing hydrocarbon groups. Due to the insolubility of silicone oil to various substances, it has a wide range of applications. It can be used not only in water system for defoaming, but also in oil system.
Small surface tension: The surface capacity of silicone oil is generally 20-21 dynes/cm, which is smaller than the surface tension of water (72 dynes/cm) and general foaming liquid, and the defoaming effect is good.
Good thermal stability: Taking the commonly used dimethyl silicone oil as an example, it can withstand 150°C for a long time and over 300°C for a short time, and its Si-O bond does not decompose. It ensures that the silicone defoamer can be used in a wide temperature range.
Good chemical stability: Since the Si-O bond is relatively stable, the chemical stability of silicone oil is very high, and it is difficult to chemically react with other substances. Therefore, as long as the preparation is reasonable, silicone defoamers are allowed to be used in systems containing acids, alkalis, and salts.
Physiological inertness: Silicone oil has been proven to be non-toxic to humans and animals, and its semi-lethal dose is greater than 34 g/kg. Therefore, silicone defoamers (with suitable non-toxic emulsifiers, etc.) can be safely used in food, medical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.
Strong defoaming ability: Silicone defoaming agent can not only effectively break the foam that has been formed, but also significantly inhibit the foam and prevent the formation of foam. It is used in a small amount, as long as one millionth (1ppm) of the weight of the foaming medium is added, it can produce a defoaming effect. Its usual range is 1 to 100 ppm. Not only the cost is low, but also the substance to be defoamed will not be polluted.
Specification of Silicone Defoamer
Name | Silicone defoamer |
Appearance | White Emulsion |
Ph (20 ºC, 20%water solution) | 6-8 |
Density(g/cm3,25ºC) | 1.000±0.100 |
Viscosity(mPa·s,25ºC) | 800~3000 |
Bulk Density (g/l) | 250-450g/L |
Active Matter Content | ≥30% |
Water Solution | Water soluble |
Silicone Defoamer Uses
Silicone antifoaming agent has a wide range of uses and applications. It is used as a defoamer in the fermentation industry such as acid, citric acid, and xanthan gum. It is also used in textiles, printing and dyeing, coatings, dyes, papermaking, inks, oil fields, sewage treatment and other fields. When used in printing and dyeing, it has good compatibility with the additives in the dyeing bath, and does not affect the shade and color fastness.
Industrial Manufacturing: silicone defoamers play a crucial role in industrial manufacturing processes. For instance, in petroleum and natural gas extraction, the addition of silicone defoamers reduces foam formation, improving liquid flow and, consequently, enhancing extraction efficiency. In chemical production, silicone defoamers can control bubble formation during reaction processes, ensuring product quality and stability. Moreover, they are widely used in industries such as metalworking, textiles, and paper manufacturing to control bubble formation in liquids, thereby improving production efficiency and product quality.
Food Processing: silicone defoamers are significant in the food processing industry. For example, in beer production, adding an appropriate amount of silicone defoamer prevents excessive foam during fermentation, ensuring the taste and quality of the beer. In candy manufacturing, silicone defoamers are used to control bubble formation in syrups, resulting in smoother and more aesthetically pleasing candies. Additionally, silicone defoamers can be employed in the food packaging process to prevent the impact of bubbles on packaged food.
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing: In pharmaceutical manufacturing, silicone defoamers find widespread use in the production processes of medications. For instance, in the preparation of injections, silicone defoamers prevent bubble formation in the liquid, ensuring the purity and effectiveness of the medication. In the manufacturing of oral medications, silicone defoamers control bubble formation in tablets or capsules, making the medication easier to ingest and absorb.
Environmental Protection: Organosilicone defoamers also play a crucial role in environmental protection. For instance, in wastewater treatment processes, they are used to control bubble formation in sewage, thereby improving wastewater treatment efficiency. In the treatment of petrochemical waste gases, silicone defoamers are used to reduce foam formation in emissions, minimizing environmental pollution. Additionally, they can be used in the cleaning process of marine oil spills, reducing the impact of foam on the effectiveness of cleaning.
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