What is the principle of Defoamer?

Defoamers, as widely used chemical auxiliaries in industrial production, primarily to inhibit foaming in liquids. So, how do defoamers achieve this magical function?

The key lies in disrupting the stability of the foam. Foam a phenomenon formed by the dispersion of gas in a liquid and being wrapped by a liquid film, while defoamers can efficiently penetrate into the interior of these foam films. They reduce the surface tension of the film or enhance the local viscosity of the film, causing the foam to become fragile and prone to disintegration.

Defoamers generate a of coating on the surface of the foam's liquid film that is insoluble in water, which hinders the gas exchange between foam, leading to the gradual disappearance of the due to the loss of support.

It is worth noting that different types of defoamers may have differences in their defoaming mechanisms. For instance, some defamers weaken the stability of the foam through chemical reaction mechanisms, while others utilize physical means, such as adsorption and spreading effects, to achieve their defoaming functions. Regardless the method, they all focus on the same core purpose—to prevent the formation of foam.

In practical applications, the selection and use of defoamers also need be based on specific process conditions and the characteristics of the foam. Only by correctly selecting and using defoamers can we ensure that they play a significant role in industrial production.