FOAM AND ANTIFOAM THEORY a General information on the theory of foam formation and destruction with Dow Corning® Silicone Antifoams. FOAM THEORY ANTIFOAM THEORY General o wx, Gomera ee ree foams: we SE ‘one of two ways. They either displace Pes ide donot ton pee bide atiatterce ‘In most systems, the presence of a Wa orlocally burst them. sae aie aero Suan ESA Foam sicbiseraispiacemen occu necessary; in hydrocarbon systoms, ——BELSASSe Pnasenpepaaens rr cea I1thedifusionrateistootast, surfactant the foam liquid and antifoam surt 1eiffusion ate is too fast, surfactant e foam liquid and antifoam surtace * Foams are essentially unstable and mojeculesinthe bulk liquid between the tensions, and foarm/antifoam interfacial {end to collapse to a liquid which iS bubble walls may reach the weak spotin tension. The most important factor deter- after a thin antifoam layers spread over, the bubbles. ts success depends upon the lowest energy state. the film before surface transport oper- mining spreading, however, is that the seats Gone pa lee see eateries moving to the liquid surface and Surface Viscosity ‘as shown in the diagram entitled "Local orienting away from the liquid; the eo tania aieatar eoseaiel ‘Surface Tension Depression”. 2 pee, slabilty if the molecule cannot pack efficiently together Antfoamsotthe silicone gycoltype work Twisusorom inthis way Incold water they ae soluble andpromototoaming.Asthe temperature Itis produced by the “cross-linking” of rises, the water molecules move fastey ‘The correct choice of philic and surfactant molecules onbubbie surfaces Weakeringlorces withthe silcone glycol Toeheble guuneean clube aimost _ vialydrogon bonding molec. whch become isa. This Laud aa lorloniesuriacants andprotensipep- temperature isthe cloud point because eee Nomionicsurfactantsandprotains/pep- the solution becomes cloudy. The pat + Primary results o his is to lower sur-_ tides stabilise foams by this mechanism rests of hiss ner su bse foams by his me iclesofslicone glycolcannotspread, so face tension of the liquid, be the (2g. beer, fe z they depositon the bubble walls as sites surface is now a mixture of yophobic it Srasrccors mwa Buk Mscosty sTchiaeenen res tyaccsrbon goupe ofa Bulk viscosity stabilises many foams in ecient dgpersion of an antifoam is Simple soapin water, thick lids, e-9 pats, ols, viscose. essarialoalowactonatmoststesina is is usually called ai entrainment. foam, Staightpolyaimethylsiioone fuids ‘ Sutace tension depression eases andbecause iquddrainage esosion anersewslinogamesohen, andact foam generation (Surfaces are more the foam may be long lasting though as antloams allow concontrtions How. easily stetchod) but is not a com- itis not really @ foam. ever in water clepersion is poor, 20 pleted guide to the stability or life- finely divided filer is compounded with {ime ofthe suiting foam Electrical Reputsion the fluid. This improves dispersion but Additionally, there are other properties With anionicor cationic surfactants, the increases viscosity Scone compounds ofa surfactant and bulk hquld that are thinning of abubble wall proceeds until frunasuewscoety Sitpone cortpound Necessary to produce a stable foam. _the charged groups on opposite fares of ems, Formaximumdispersioninwaterit ae the wall become sufficiently close 0 ismecessary to emulsify the compound. cause electrical repulsion. Ths repulsion Stapvity and parce size distribution of pay Elasticity a Lohner ‘the emulsion then further influence anti urtace elastic, also termed Gibbs- m one foam effect Suitable files are slica, ment (diffusion) of surfactant molecules than large ones, so gas tends to diffuse geste ne ea een ci titania and magnesia,Efficiency Loss LOCAL SURFACE TENSION DEPRESSION Altera period of time, all antitoams lose their efficiency because of two reasons. ‘One is mutual saturation of the foam and antfoam, Once this occurs, there is no longer ary difference in surface tension and the antifoam will not spread, The second involves solubilisation of the antifoam into molecular aggregates (micelles) of foam stabiliser This is especially important in strong surfactant solutions above their critical micelle con- Contration. When this happens, the ant foam is removed from the foam system and cannot operate effectively. Essential Antitoam Characteristics In order to successtully displace foam, an antifoam must ‘ Be insoluble in the foam system ‘¢ Have a lower surface tension than the foam. Disperse wellin the foam system ‘© Possess nono of the foam stabilising properties. ‘* Produce no secondary effects such as, ail spotting or fisheyeing, BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Surface Chemistry ACS No. 153, Osipow, 1, Robert E. Krieger Publishing Co., 1972. 2, Foams, Bikerman.J., Springer Verlag 1973. 8, Foams & Foam Control in Fecmentation Processes - Hall, et.al, Progress in Industrial Microbiology Vol. 12 4. Ross, 8. (1967) Chemical Engineering Progress, 63 (9). NOTE The information and data contained herein are based on information we believe reliable, You should thoroughly test any application, ang independently Conclude satisfactory performance betore commercialisation, Beh ML SL Eed ren SORT "he ba8840 DOM DOW CORNING EUROPE Fer Gane RUE GENERAL DE GAULLE 62 pains B-IS1O LAHULPE, BELGIUM. Wee! Germany Day © TEL: (02) 6852111. 1X: 22580 Scandinavia 4 Geren Bo J Gaue 62,1310 La Hae, Seo FAX: (02) 6552001 a) Data Sheet number 22-01608.01 199