Micelles antifoaming agents

Inks and paints contain small amounts of additives that may be of forensic interest. The chying agents already described are one example. Other additives, including plasticizers such as phthalates, are inserted into resins to impart flexibility to the polymerized mixture. These additives lessen brittleness and cracking. Antifoaming agents are also found in paints recall the use of micelles... 

Figure 8.5. Schematic of the microstructure changes for SDS micelles on the addition of an antifoaming agent (from ref. (4), reprinted with permission from American Chemical Society...

There are, however, similarities between the two types of material in that each usually has limited solubihty in the aqueous hquid phase and each can produce a lowering of the surface tension of the system beyond that produced by the primary surfactant. However, the concentration levels at which the two are most effective differ. The antifoaming agents, for example, perform best when present at levels in excess of their solubility hmit, being held in reserve by solubilization in micelles. Foam stabihzers, however, are most effective when completely dissolved and may, in fact, become antifoaming agents when present as a separate phase. 

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