Silica for Defoamers and Antifoams

Oil-based liquid defoamers are required in numerous industries, both for disruption-free production processes and for the properties and quality of the end products. Silica from Evonik is a highly effective additive for liquid defoamer formulations. Adding hydrophobic silica particles boosts the ability to fight foam and allows for a reduction of oil content in the formulation and economical dosing of defoamers during application. While hydrophobic SIPERNAT® D10 specialty silica or AEROSIL® fumed silica significantly improve the efficiency of defoamers, hydrophilic silica products act as anti-settling agent and rheology controller in oily media, such as mineral oil, silicone oil or vegetable oil. Most hydrophobic SIPERNAT® and AEROSIL® products are suitable for defoamer products used in food contact applications.

The paint & coating industry and the paper industry, in particular, rely on defoamers. Liquid defoamers are added to paints and coatings to ensure bubble-free application without pit holes which are an unacceptable defect in automotive coatings and architectural paints, for example. In paper production, defoamers are indispensable during processing and for the quality of paper products. Without highly efficient defoamers, an enormous amount of foam would build up when washing the pulp, which would impair the manufacturing process, reduce productivity and cause plant downtime. Likewise in textile processing, defoamers are needed for dyeing and washing fabrics and garments. And with liquid agrochemicals such as pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, defoamers prevent foaming both during production and handling, for example filling tanks and spraying.