This section provides an overview for silicone defoamers as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 17 silicone defoamer manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked silicone defoamer companies as of November, 2024: 1.SILIBASE SILICONE, 2.Guangdong Zilibon Chemical Co., Ltd, 3.Applied Material Solutions.
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1987~1991: Engaged in research on wire covering materials at Polymer Materials Laboratory.
1991~1997: Worked as a patent Engineer at Koike International Patent Office.
1997~2005 Worked as an intellectual property member at GE Yokogawa Medical System, currently working as a writer.
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Silicon defoamers are defoamers with excellent defoam curing properties due to their extremely low surface tension and insolubility in other substances.
The main component is polysiloxane, which is insoluble or insoluble in all substances and solvents, and has low interfacial tension with water, so it functions as a good defoaming agent in very small amounts in both aqueous and non-aqueous systems.
Silicon defoamers are used in a variety of fields. Specifically, it de-foams foam generated in all industrial fields, including chemical, petroleum, fermentation, printing, paper manufacturing, textile, and wastewater treatment. It is also used as a food additive because it is tasteless, odorless, and extremely low in toxicity.
In addition to being highly effective in defoaming in small quantities, it maintains its liquid state over a wide range of temperatures, and its physical properties do not change significantly except for viscosity. As a result, it has excellent heat and weather resistance and can be used under harsh conditions. It is also chemically and physiologically inert, tasteless, and odorless.
Bubbles in a liquid exist when the gas mixed in the liquid is covered by a thin liquid film. This film is formed by the surfactant in the liquid. In other words, the gas is wrapped in a film of surfactant. In other words, on the surface of the foam (the liquid layer called lamella), the hydrophobic groups of the surfactant are on the air side and the hydrophilic groups of the surfactant are on the water side, surrounding the gas in a stable structure.
Silicon defoamers disrupt the molecular order of the surfactant to achieve their anti-foam curing properties. The viscosity of the foam surface is due to the pseudo-bridging structure between surfactant adsorbents. The surface tension of the silicon defoamer is so small that when it adheres to the foam surface, it draws in the interfacial adsorbent substances on the foam surface, breaking the pseudo-bridging structure on the foam surface and separating the foam, thereby significantly lowering the surface tension of the foam and demonstrating its defoaming effect.
Surfactants also have a phenomenon called the Marangoni effect, which occurs when a bias in surface adsorption density creates a gradient in surface tension, causing surfactants to move back into thin areas. This phenomenon maintains the elasticity of the surfactant layer and allows the foam to exist stably. However, in the presence of silicon defoamer, the surfactant layer is replaced by silicon with low intermolecular forces, and the foam surface loses its elasticity, leading to defoaming.
The phenomenon in which small bubbles with high internal pressure in a foam are continuously absorbed by larger bubbles with low internal pressure is called gas diffusion. When surfactant is present, the gas diffusion rate in the lamella layer decreases and the foam is in a stable state. However, if a portion of the surfactant layer on the foam surface is replaced by silicon defoamer, silicon can promote gas diffusion and defoaming due to its high gas permeability.
Silicon defoamers include "oil type," "oil compound type," "self-emulsifying type," "emulsion type," "solution type," "solid type," and "powder type," and are used according to the target to be de-foamed.
Oil-based silicon defoamer is a solvent- and additive-free defoamer. Because it is non-silica, it can be used in oil-based foaming fluids that are not suitable for mixing with water or solvents.
They are inexpensive, fast-acting, and heat resistant. However, the oily component is strong enough to cause oil to float. Therefore, it may cause problems when used for drainage into rivers, etc., and must be handled with care.
Oil-compound silicon defoamer is made of silicone oil with powdered silica powder, and is made of silicone resin only, so it exhibits the inherent properties of silicone. It is effective for both oil-based and water-based foaming solutions. Since no emulsifier is added, it cannot be used as-is in water-based foaming solutions.
Self-emulsifying silicon defoamers are effective in both acidic and alkaline applications. They are also highly persistent and can be used in a wide range of applications. The disadvantage is that they are more expensive than other defoamers.
Emulsion-type silicon defoamers are general-purpose defoamers for water-based foaming solutions. They are easy to handle, safe, and available in many varieties. Therefore, they are used for food additives and wastewater treatment.
Disadvantages include limited storage conditions. Weaknesses include low resistance to high-temperature foaming solution, alkali resistance, and acid resistance.
Solution-type silicon defoamers are made by dissolving silicone fluid in a solvent, which allows the addition of various functionalities depending on the solvent. They are mainly used for defoaming oil-based foaming solutions. Although they are highly effective for oil-based foams, they are less effective for water-based foams.
Solid and powder silicon defoamers are manufactured by adsorbing silicone fluid onto a highly oil-absorbent powder or solid. They have good storage stability, easy handling, and workability. They are also effective in dispersing well in aqueous foam solutions, but are difficult to use in non-aqueous foam solutions.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Momentive Performance Materials Inc. (MPM) is an American manufacturer of silicones and specialty solutions established as a subsidiary of MOM Holding Company in 2019. Based in Niskayuna, New York, the company produces various silicones and silicone derivative products such as adhesives, cosmetic additives, hardcoats, and mold release agents. These are used by clients in a wide range of industries, including the automotive, renewable energy, packaging, and beauty industries. MPM operates globally, with over 50 manufacturing and commercial locations across North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Applied Material Solutions (AMS), headquartered in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, is a manufacturer of specialty chemicals. Its product range includes foam control products, hydrophobic silicas, colloidal silicas, corn oil demulsifiers, and more. Some of its specific products offered are antifoams and defoamers, colloidal silica, hydrophobic silica, corn oil demulsifiers, and silicone emulsions. These products are used in various industries such as food processing and agribusiness, fuel ethanol, pulp and paper, water treatment, paints, and coatings. AMS is also a member of several organizations such as the Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy.
Established in 1995, Crucible Chemical is a manufacturer of specialty chemicals based in the USA. They specialize in producing additives for various industries. Driven by innovation, Crucible Chemical offers a diverse range of specialty chemicals, including lubricity enhancers for the automotive sector, corrosion inhibitors for metalworking, and antiscalants for water treatment. Their solutions address complex industry challenges and optimize processes. Crucible Chemical's strength lies in their deep understanding of industry needs, directing tailored chemical solutions that enhance efficiency and performance. They continue to excel in specialty chemical manufacturing.
Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., founded in 1926 in Japan, is a manufacturer and distributor of synthetic chemicals and electronic materials, such as semiconductor silicon and rare earth quartz. The company offers a wide range of products, including silicone sealants and rubbers, as well as cellulose derivatives used in foods and pharmaceuticals, and rare earth magnets. The company has four core business segments, including infrastructure chemicals, electronics materials, silicone-based functional agents, and specialized engineering for the development of plant design, construction, and maintenance.
Shanghai Guanru Chemical Co., Ltd., established in 2012 and headquartered in Shanghai, China, operates as a manufacturer and supplier of various chemical products, including defoamer, adipic acid, polyacrylamide, and more. The company offers a diverse range of products, such as formic acid, methylene chloride, PVC resin, choline chloride, sulfonic acid, and others. These products find applications across various industries, including pulp and papermaking, textile printing and dyeing, architectural coatings, surface cleaning, water treatment, and more.
OM TEX CHEM PVT. LTD., founded in India in 2002, is a supplier of silicone fluid based formulations. The company's product portfolio includes eco-friendly chemicals such as silicone emulsions, silicone defoamers, silicone lubricants, and textile silicone lubricants. It also offers offer sewing thread lubricants, reactive silicon fluids, nonreactive silicone fluids, silicone softeners, and hydrophilic amino that are used in pharmaceutical, industrial machinery and equipment, and cosmetic and personal care products. It also offers custom silicone solutions for various industries.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | SILIBASE SILICONE |
16.7%
|
2 | Guangdong Zilibon Chemical Co., Ltd |
8.3%
|
3 | Applied Material Solutions |
8.3%
|
4 | Guangdong NanHui New Material Co., Ltd. |
6.3%
|
5 | Hangzhou Topwin Technology Development Co.,ltd |
6.3%
|
6 | JOHN-HENRY ENTERPRISES, INC |
6.3%
|
7 | OM TEX CHEM PVT. LTD. |
6.3%
|
8 | Shanghai Guanru Chemical Co., Ltd. |
6.3%
|
9 | Crucible Chemical Co. |
6.3%
|
10 | Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. |
6.3%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the silicone defoamer page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
China | 6 | 42.9% |
United States of America | 4 | 28.6% |
India | 3 | 21.4% |
Japan | 1 | 7.1% |