Antifoam, also known as defoamer, is a chemical additive used to control or eliminate foam formation in various industrial processes. Foam can be problematic as it can interfere with the efficiency and productivity of operations. Antifoam agents are designed to reduce surface tension and disrupt foam bubbles, preventing their formation or causing them to collapse. Antifoam’s general characteristics are:

• Insoluble in the foaming medium: Antifoams are insoluble in the liquid that they are added to, which helps to prevent them from becoming part of the foam itself.
• Surface-active: Antifoams have surface-active properties, which means that they can lower the surface tension of the liquid that they are added to. This makes it more difficult for air bubbles to form and stay together, which helps to prevent foam from forming.
• Low viscosity: Antifoams typically have low viscosity, which means that they can spread easily over the surface of the liquid. This helps them to reach all of the air bubbles and break them down.
• Non-toxic: Antifoams are typically non-toxic, which means that they are safe to use in most applications.
• Effective at low concentrations: Antifoams are typically effective at very low concentrations, which means that they can be used sparingly without affecting the performance of the liquid.

Antifoam Uses in Water Treatment

Antifoams are used in water treatment to prevent the formation of foam. Foam can be a problem in water treatment for a number of reasons, including interfering with the treatment process, making it difficult to see what is happening in the treatment system, and being a safety hazard.

There are a number of different types of antifoams that can be used in water treatment, including silicone-based antifoams, mineral oil-based antifoams, and protein-based antifoams. Antifoams are typically added to water treatment systems at a very low concentration. The amount of antifoam that needs to be added will vary depending on the type of antifoam, the water quality, and the treatment process. Order antifoam from Water Solutions Unlimited.