Why should I use defoamers and antifoams?
What's the difference between an antifoam and a defoamer?
How do you test the performance of an antifoam?
How can I select the best antifoam for my application?
How do antifoams work?
What's in an antifoam?
What does "Magrabar" mean?
Which is better - an emulsion or 100% active?
Where are you located?
How can I place an order?
Why should I use defoamers and antifoams?
Magrabar antifoams are very effective in controlling foam, improving productivity and for air release in jams and preserves.
An antifoam enables you to:
- Fill containers and vessels to capacity
- Improve pumping and mixing
- Prevent product losses from overflowing containers
- Improve safety and housekeeping
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What’s the difference between an antifoam and a defoamer?
"Defoamer" and "Antifoam" are terms often used interchangeably, but antifoam is designed to prevent foam, whereas a defoamer eliminates existing foam.
Antifoam agents should be added prior to foam formation at a location and time as close to the foaming problem as possible, for example, prior to addition of surfactants.
Defoamers can be used to react to foam and to knock it down before tanks or containers overflow.
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How do you test the performance of an antifoam?
The performance of an antifoam can be testing by completing the following:
Shake test – antifoam test that can be easily performed in the field.
Stirrer test – antifoam test that more accurately reflects many foaming problems during dilution and formulation of sprays.
Air sparge test – antifoam or defoam test that allows a more quantitative measurement of performance when used with calibrated cylinders.
Pump test – antifoam or defoam test that can simulate foaming problems during pumping.
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How can I select the best antifoam for my application?
Many factors impact which antifoam to use, including:
- what's foaming
- what's the process stream
- any agitation
- how will the antifoam be applied
- temperature
- pH
- operating and regulatory limitations
For help making the best choice, turn to us for support. With our years of experience, we truly believe that if it foams, we can handle it!
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How do antifoams work?
While 95% of all foam problems occur in aqueous media, pure water does not foam. The addition of surfactants and other surface-active chemicals trap air at the liquid surface causing foam to build-up.
A defoamer or antifoam must be insoluble in the foaming media and have a low surface tension so it spreads across the foam surface.
Higher dispersibility results in quicker knockdown but may reduce hold-down.
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What's in an antifoam?
Carrier – usually an oil that is insoluble in the foaming medium. Oils have low surface tensions and migrate to the air/liquid interface. It may be vegetable oil, mineral oil, or silicone based.
Hydrophobe – finely divided solids that move with the carrier across the surface and physically disrupt bubble walls.
Surfactants – used to prepare stable emulsions of the carrier in the diluents. Also act in spreading and dispersing the antifoam in the foaming medium. Selection of the surfactant package is often key to a successful antifoam formulation.
Diluent – usually water. Antifoams and defoamers are effective at low doses (often less than 0.01%) so stable dilutions allow better dosing control resulting in cost savings for the user.
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What does "Magrabar" mean?
Three men once discussed getting into business together – Mather, Green and Barker. Using the first part of each of their names, they came up with the name Magrabar. Though that business association never started, when Robert E. Green founded his company in 1981, he remembered the name and Magrabar was born.
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Which is better – an emulsion or 100% active?
It depends! Emulsions have water in them, so part of your freight cost is shipping water. They tend to have a higher viscosity, a lower price point, and extremely fast knockdown, even in cases where agitation is poor.
100% active antifoams are concentrated to have a lower viscosity and a higher unit cost. The decision as to which is best for you depends on your specific application and on how well you can control antifoam usage. With better control, the 100% active formulations are often more cost effective. For a 'bucket-brigade' environment where antifoam dosing is hard to control, the lower unit cost of emulsions may be the better choice.
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Where are you located?
Magrabar is conveniently located in the northwest suburbs of Chicago at:
6100 Madison Court
Morton Grove, IL 60053
This is our sole manufacturing location. All Magrabar products are made in the USA.
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How can I place an order?
You can e-mail us at orders@magrabar.com, call at (847) 965-7550 or fax at (847) 965-7553.