The choice of silicone or non-silicon defoamer needs to consider a number of factors, the following are some reference points:


Defoaming performance requirements


• If the need for fast and efficient defoaming and foam suppression, and the treatment system allows the use of silicone, then silicone defoaming agent is a better choice, such as in the chemical production of large fermenters, silicone defoaming agent can quickly eliminate a large number of foam.


• If the requirements for defoaming speed are not particularly high, but you want to have good compatibility and moderate foam suppression effect in a specific system, non-silicon defoaming agents can meet, such as in the production of some water-based coatings, non-silicon defoaming agents can play a role in defoaming without affecting the performance of the coating.


Application environmental condition


• When in high temperature, high pH or high chemical stability requirements of the environment, silicone defoamer is more suitable, such as in high temperature printing and dyeing process, silicone defoamer can play a stable role.


• For some silicon-sensitive environments, such as certain electronics industry cleaning processes, the use of non-silicon defoamer can avoid the impact of silicon residues on electronic components.


Cost factor


• When the budget is sufficient and the defoaming effect is very high, silicone defoaming agents can be given priority.


• If the cost constraints are strict and the requirements for defoaming performance are not extreme, non-silicon defoaming agents may be preferred due to their price advantages, such as in some common wastewater treatment projects where cost control is more stringent.


The effect on system performance


• Silicone defoamers may have an impact on the surface properties of some systems, such as in some coating systems requiring a good surface gloss may not be suitable.


• Polyether defoamer in non-silicon defoamer has good compatibility in some water-based systems, does not affect the rheological properties of the system, and can be used in occasions with high requirements for system performance