Correctly distinguish between polyether defoamer and silicone defoamer
There are a wide variety of defoamers on the market, each with its own unique properties and application areas. According to the composition of defoamer, there are polyether type and silicone type, etc. What are the characteristics of polyether defoamer and silicone defoamer and the difference between them?
1. First of all, there is a big difference in appearance. Polyether defoamer is generally colorless or yellow transparent viscous liquid, while silicone defoamer is a milky white viscous emulsion.
2. From the composition point of view, polyether antifoam is mainly formed by ring-opening polymerization of ethylene oxide (EO) and propylene oxide (PO). Polyether antifoam is a non-ionic water-soluble surface active agent with good defoaming effect. The silicone antifoam is made of silicone grease, emulsifier, thickener, etc. and water emulsification.
3. From the performance point of view, the defoaming efficiency of polyether defoamer is relatively low in the case of a large number of foams, and it cannot quickly eliminate foam, but it can suppress foam for a long time. No irritating odor, no side effects, it can be quickly spread in organic solvents, and will not affect the performance of the product; while ordinary silicone itself has no defoaming ability, and the surface tension is reduced after emulsification. The performance of rapid defoaming and anti-foaming can be achieved in a few cases, and due to the insolubility of silicone oil, it can be used in both water-based and oil-based systems, with stable chemical properties and good defoaming in effect under acid-base salt conditions.
4. From the perspective of application scope, polyether defoamer is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry, various antibiotics (such as tetracycline, oxytetracycline, etc.), food fermentation, cosmetic production, and can also be used in textile printing and dyeing, paint, coating, Circuit boards, papermaking and other industries; and silicone defoamers are generally used in textile pulp, industrial water treatment, mud defoaming in oil extraction, water-based coatings and other industries that require long foam suppression time and rapid defoaming.
Distinguish these two kinds of defoamer, we will choose them in a targeted manner, which can save cost and achieve the ideal defoaming effect.
