Antifoams for Detergent Products

FIGURE 8.1 Overfoaming in front-loading drum-type washing machine due to absence of 

Unfortunately, there is little published scientific literature concerned with the application of antifoams in the context of detergent products. We are therefore obliged to consult the relevant patent literature to infer the empirical generalizations and principles involved. This is not, however, intended to be a thorough review of that literature—we select patents only to illustrate what appear to be important generic principles or interesting effects. Patents of selection or me-too patents that describe minor variations on a revealed theme are in the main not considered. 

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Uses Antifoam for aq. systems such as liq. and powd, detergents, alkali cleaners, gas scrubbers, drilling muds, effluent and water treatment, surface coatings Features Highly resistant to extremes of temp, and pressure effective over a wide pH range extremely versatile product long lasting efficiency Properties Opaque liq, pH neutral... 

Quahty control testing of siUcones utilizes a combination of physical and chemical measurements to ensure satisfactory product performance and processibihty. Eor example, in addition to the usual physical properties of cured elastomers, the plasticity of heat-cured mbber and the extmsion rate of TVR elastomers under standard conditions are important to the customer. Where the siUcone appHcation involves surface activity, a use test is frequently the only rehable indicator of performance. Eor example, the performance of an antifoaming agent can be tested by measuring the foam reduction when the sihcone emulsion is added to an agitated standard detergent solution. The product data sheets and technical bulletins from commercial siUcone producers can be consulted for more information. 

Sometimes, the developer of surfactant products is compelled to use high foaming surfactants for applications in which only little foam is acceptable, e.g. in detergency and, in these cases, antifoams are necessary. Antifoams are substances or mixtures of substances which are able to reduce the foaming tendency of a system or destroy an existing foam when added in... 

Antifoam compounds for use in detergents can be found in many types of formulated products including dishwashing detergents and rinse aids, home laundry formulations, home laundry softeners, window cleaners, alkaline metal degreasers, hard-surface cleaners, acid cleaning of metals, bottle-cleaning formulations, and many others. 

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