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How to choose between silicone defoamers and polyether defoamers Resolve your concerns

How to choose between silicone defoamers and polyether defoamers Resolve your concerns

22-05-2026

Firstly, we need to distinguish between two words: DEFOAMER AND ANTIFOAM

Defoamer: Defoamer can quickly break the generated foam.

Antifoam: inhibit the formation of new foam and prevent the system from foaming continuously.

Different defoamers have different effects. The paper mill is afraid that foaming will damage the quality of paper, the sewage treatment should be defoaming for a long time, and the oil field oil production is afraid that foam will affect the efficiency. What is the cost of choosing the wrong industry in your field? The choice between silicone defoamers and polyether defoamers is not about which one is better, but rather about your industry determining the direction of your choice.

silicone defoamer

SILICONE DEFOAMER

Silicon defoamers are the most common category in the current market. The surface tension of silicone defoamer is extremely low, and it can spread and penetrate rapidly on the foam liquid membrane, causing the bubble to burst rapidly. And the usage is very small, as long as one millionth (1ppm) of the weight of the foaming medium is added, it can produce defoaming effect.

ADVANTAGE

DISADVANTAGES

Strong inertia, safe and non-toxic.
Strong defoaming ability, can instantly burst bubbles;
Strong chemical stability and wide pH tolerance;
Low usage and excellent cost control;

May affect recoating/bonding;
Being picky about compatibility, if the emulsification is not good or the model is incorrect, it will cause emulsion breaking, oil drifting, shrinkage, etc.

POLYETHER DEFOAMER

Polyether defoamers and organosilicon have distinct personalities. Polyether defoamers have stable performance and good compatibility in various aqueous and even non-aqueous media. Unlike silicone defoamers, polyether defoamers have relatively weaker defoaming ability, but their anti foaming ability is strong. When the system temperature rises to a certain cloud point, polyether defoamer molecules will precipitate particles and destroy the generated bubbles.

ADVANTAGE

DISADVANTAGES

No residual risk: does not affect subsequent processes;
Outstanding anti foaming ability, suitable for continuous foaming process;
High temperature resistance, no emulsification or precipitation, no film blockage;
Good compatibility, excellent compatibility with water/oil systems;
Good biodegradability, non-toxic, does not harm fermentation bacteria, and does not pollute wastewater biochemical systems;

The foam breaking rate is relatively low, and when the foam bursts too violently, it needs to cooperate with mechanical defoaming or add in in advance;
Temperature sensitivity requires optimal performance above the cloud point, and the selection of low-temperature systems should be cautious;

RISE CHEMICAL has been focusing on the research and development, production, and sales of defoamers since 2004. Our products are widely used in various industries such as water treatment, papermaking, petroleum, steel rolling, fermentation, cement concrete, cleaning, etc. Please feel free to CONTACT US to provide your industry characteristics and process parameters. RISE CHEMICAL's professional team will recommend the most suitable defoamer products for you and provide FREE SAMPLE trials.

polyether defoamer

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