In paint and coatings, foam creates problems at nearly every turn – from manufacturing to final application. Foam and entrained air can be introduced into a coating by agitation during pigment/polymer grinding, let-down and packaging, by shear during application or even through a porous substrate. This foam is inherently stabilized by components of the coating itself such as dispersants, wetting agents and thickeners.
During production, unchecked foam can result in tank overflows, decreased batch yields, production delays, pump cavitation, and ultimately poor product quality. Perhaps more importantly, foam can contribute to defects at the point of application, such as fisheyes, pin holes, and orange peel in the dried films.
Foam control agents play a major role in paint and coating formulations. These additives can be classified as defoamers, antifoams or air release agents. Although these terms are often used interchangeably, “defoamer” is generally used as the standard term. Particularly in paints and coatings, defoamer selection must be carefully considered to effectively balance defoaming efficiency and coating compatibility.
At Crucible Chemical Company, we have over 50 years of experience developing highly effective foam control agents for industrial use, including a wide range of paint and coating formulations. Our portfolio of defoamers includes oil-based and synthetic non-silicone, silicone and organo-silicone defoamers.
Foamkill Defoamers for Paint and Coatings
Though defoamers are employed at very low addition levels in most paints and coatings, they are critically important to ensure efficient production, packaging and defect-free application. Our full line of Foamkill defoamers are uniquely suited to provide optimal foam control for a variety of paint and coating formulations.
Non-silicone Defoamers for Paint and Coatings
- Foamkill 629 is a low cost non-silicone defoamer. It exhibits sufficient defoaming capabilities in many water-based paint and coating applications and can be incorporated during the grind or letdown processes.
- Foamkill 4068 is a low cost organic defoamer for dispersion paints, latex adhesive systems and water-based inks. It is broadly effective in coatings based on SBR, acrylic, PVC, PVAC and other emulsion systems.
- Foamkill 639 offers good, universal defoaming performance in most water-based paints and coatings. It is particularly effective in acrylics and polyesters.
- Foamkill 649 is a fully emulsifiable defoamer for difficult problems requiring fisheye-free properties. It is particularly effective in water-reducible polyesters, alkyds and urethanes.
- Foamkill DF-30A is a broad spectrum synthetic defoamer for water-based gloss and semi-gloss paints & coatings, inks and latex systems. It is most effective when added to the pigment grind.
- Foamkill VFN is a VOC-, APE-, and silicone-free replacement for standard mineral oil-based defoamers. It is well-suited for use in many water-based paints, inks, and coatings with a high degree of compatibility. Foamkill VFN can be added during the grind, letdown, or as a post-addition.
Silicone and Organo-Silicone Defoamers for Paint and Coatings
- Foamkill 639J is a broadly effective organo-silicone defoamer used in coatings based on SBR, acrylic, PVC, PVAC and other emulsion systems.
- Foamkill 4039 is a high strength organo-silicone option for aqueous paint, ink, and coating systems. It is ideal for vinyl, acrylic, and other paints and coatings that are prone to high foam levels.
- Foamkill 4035 is designed for use in nonaqueous coating systems. It prevents foam in roller coating, curtain coating, flood coating, dip, conventional and airless spray applications.
- Foamkill 836A is a concentrated defoaming emulsion. It is particularly useful in high viscosity and water-reducible systems. It is also highly effective in water-based inks including flexographic, acrylics and rotogravure applications.
- Foamkill C-48 is concentrated organo-silicone effective combating microfoam in gloss paints. It is most effective when incorporated under high shear.