Perched on a cup of cappuccino or a glass of beer, foam can be pleasing. But in a manufacturing process, foam can cause vessels to overflow, increasing maintenance costs and processing time and reducing production efficiency.
Hence, it is in the interest of manufacturers to control foam, according to Dow Corning that proposes two methods: destroying it with a defoamer or preventing it with an antifoam product. In either case, products such as the firm’s Xiameter silicone foam control agents penetrate a foam bubble wall, spreading the liquid-gas interface and causing the bubble wall to become unstable and collapse. This can reduce production costs and improve overall efficiency in many industries around the world – from food processing to general industrial manufacturing.
“Antifoam products should be formulated to have minimal impact – other than foam suppression. Generally, the smaller the amount of antifoam required, the less impact there will be on the product,” the US firm says, adding that this is one reason why silicone products are frequently the first choice for combating foam in industrial processes.
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