The importance of defoamer in industrial applications

Defoamer is a class of chemical substances that can effectively remove or inhibit foam formation and is widely used in many industries. The production of foam often interferes with the production process, reduces product quality, and even affects the normal operation of production equipment. The application of defoamer can effectively solve these problems, ensure the smooth progress of the production process, and improve product quality and production efficiency. This paper will discuss the importance of defoamer in industry, covering its working principle, application field, type and selection skills.


First, the working principle of defoamer
The action mechanism of defoamer can be simply understood as reducing the surface tension of the foam surface and destroying the foam structure, so that the foam can disappear or be suppressed. Foam is usually formed due to the presence of gas molecules in the liquid, which form bubbles with the liquid molecules. When the surface tension of the liquid is low, the bubbles are not easy to burst, thus forming a stable foam. By changing the surface tension of the liquid, the defoamer can promote the rupture of the foam or stabilize the change of the foam structure, so that the foam can be effectively suppressed.

The effectiveness of an antifoam agent is usually determined by its molecular structure and physicochemical properties. Common antifoam ingredients include silicone oil, fatty acid salt, polyether, mineral oil and so on. The addition of these ingredients can reduce the surface tension of the liquid, make the foam no longer stable, and accelerate the disappearance of the foam.


Second, the application field of defoamer
Defoamer plays an integral role in many industrial areas, and the following are some of the main application areas:


1. Chemical industry
Chemical industry is one of the most widely used fields of defoamer. Many chemical production processes, such as emulsion polymerization, reactor reaction, coating production, etc., will produce a large amount of foam. These foams will not only affect the reaction speed, but may also cause damage to the equipment. Defoamer ensures the stability of chemical process by inhibiting the formation of foam or accelerating the bursting of foam.


2. Food processing
In the food processing industry, the formation of foam is also very common, especially in the production of dairy products, beer, juice and other beverages. Foam not only affects production efficiency, but also may lead to a decline in product appearance quality. The use of defoamer can effectively control the foam and ensure the smooth progress of food production. For example, in the beer brewing process, foam can affect the efficiency of fermentation, and the use of defoamer can ensure the smooth completion of the fermentation process.


3. Pharmaceutical industry
In the production process of drugs, defoamer also plays a vital role. In the process of mixing, dispersing and dissolving drugs, foam is often produced. These foams not only affect the quality of the drug, but may also cause inconvenience in the manufacturing process. Defoamer can effectively remove these foams to ensure the stability and safety of the drug production process.


4. The oil industry
In the process of oil extraction and refining, the foam problem is also quite serious. Many reaction steps in petroleum refining, such as desulfurization and degassing of crude oil, are prone to forming bubbles, which will reduce production efficiency and even affect the quality of products. The addition of defoamer can help reduce the formation of foam and ensure the smooth progress of the petroleum refining process.


5. Water treatment
In the process of water treatment, especially in the process of sewage treatment and waste water reuse, the formation of foam is often an unavoidable problem. Foam will not only increase the difficulty of handling, but also may lead to gas leakage, affecting water quality. In water treatment, defoamer can effectively inhibit the formation of foam, reduce the difficulty of treatment and improve the efficiency of treatment.


6. Pulp and paper industry
In the pulp and paper industry, defoamer is used to reduce and control foam in the pulp process and improve paper quality. Too much foam will make the fluidity of the pulp poor, affecting the strength and smoothness of the paper. By using defoamer, the efficiency of paper production and the quality of the final product can be improved.


7. Textile industry
In the textile industry, the foam problem is particularly prominent in the dye, printing and washing processes. Defoamer can effectively inhibit the generation of foam, ensure the smooth progress of textile treatment process, thereby improving production efficiency and reducing raw material waste.


Three, the type of defoamer
There are many kinds of defoamer, and different types of defoamer can be selected according to different application scenarios and needs. Common types of defoamer include:


1. Silicone oil defoamer
Silicone oil defoamer is a common defoamer, its main component is polysiloxane. Silicone oil has a low surface tension, can effectively inhibit the generation of foam, widely used in coating, chemical industry, food processing and other fields.


2. Fatty acid salt defoamer
Fatty acid salts are often used in the production of industrial paints, inks and emulsions. They have low surface tension, can effectively destroy the foam structure, and have good antifoam effect.


3. Polyether defoamer
Polyether defoamer is widely used in water-based systems, especially in coatings, paper making, cleaning agents and other fields. Polyether defoamer has good water solubility and high efficiency defoamer.


4. Mineral oil defoamer
Mineral oil defoamer is often used in applications that require high temperature resistance or special environments, such as plastic processing, rubber industry, etc. Mineral oil defoamer has excellent stability and long-lasting defoamer effect.


5. Silicone defoamer
Silicone defoamer combines the excellent properties of silicone and the characteristics of defoamer, and is suitable for various industrial processes, especially in the case of high liquid surface tension, to provide excellent defoamer effect.
Fourth, how to choose the right defoamer
The choice of the appropriate defoamer needs to be determined according to the specific application needs. Here are a few key factors to consider when choosing a defoamer:
1. The effect of defoamer
When selecting defoamer, the first thing to consider is whether its defoamer effect meets the requirements. The defoamer should have a low surface tension, be able to quickly destroy the foam structure, and prevent foam reformation.


2. Applicable industrial environment
Different industrial environments also have different requirements for defoamer. For special environments such as high temperature, high pressure, strong acid or strong alkali, it is necessary to choose a defoamer with high temperature resistance and chemical corrosion resistance.


3. Impact on product quality
The composition of the defoamer may have an impact on the quality of the final product, so when selecting an defoamer, it is necessary to ensure that it does not negatively affect the appearance, color, odor, etc., of the product.


4. Safety and environmental protection requirements
When selecting a defoamer, consider whether it meets the relevant safety and environmental standards. Especially in the food, pharmaceutical and other industries, the ingredients of defoamer must be non-toxic, harmless, and meet national standards.


V. Summary
The application of defoamer in industry has undoubtedly played a huge role, which can not only improve production efficiency, reduce the negative impact of foam, but also ensure the quality of products and ensure the normal operation of production equipment. With the continuous development of industrial production processes and the improvement of product quality requirements, the demand for defoamer will be more and more large. Choosing the right defoamer and combining it should be used in the production process will bring significant economic and social benefits to various industries.