Effective Foam Controlling Performance Materials

Huber Silicas for Defoamers – amorphous, inert Synthetic Silicon Dioxide – have been specially developed to facilitate the coalescing of foam bubbles. The silicas give full effect independent of the kind of foam – macro foam as well as micro foam. Huber Silicas are manufactured according to Huber’s unique proprietary Controlled Function Technology ® (CFT) manufacturing and milling process.

Products:

Zeofoam® 166 is a micronized powder with a fine particle size of 5 micron and very narrow particle size distribution. It is the first product to choose for in-situ surface treatment to make it hydrophobic. It can be used universally over a long range of defoamers from paints & coatings to the paper industry.

Zeofree® 80 is a milled powder with a medium particle size of 11 micron. It is easily made hydrophobic by the dry- roast or in-situ method of hydrophobization. It is the product of choice for defoamers for the paper industry.

Zeoflo® TL is Huber's hydrophobized product. We have pre-treated the product in a special process to make it ready to use in the defoamer industry.

Benefits of Huber’s Silica for Defoamers:

• Easy to process
• Uniform particle size
• Effective in use
• FDA conforming
• Manufactured under GMP

Application Guidelines

There are two basic method of making hydrophilic silica hydrophobic the In-situ and the Dry Roast Method.

1. In-Situ method

The hydrophilic silica is reacted with hydroxy terminated silicone oil in a diluent vehicle like glycol. An organic amine or ammoniumcarbonate are used as catalyst. The condensation reaction takes place between silica and silicone oil at fairly low temperature (limited to the flash point of the diluent (100-120°C)). Once hydrophobic, the silicon dioxide is further suspended in the defoamer oil. Surfactants and wetting agents are added.

2. Dry Roast Method

The hydrophilic silica is reacted with the silicon oil (PDMS) (e.g. 100 cps) in a fluidized bead reactor to promote good contact between silica and silicone oil. Reaction takes place at about 250 °C. Water is released during the condensation reaction as by-product. The hydrophobic level is measured by the Methanol Wet Out method. Once hydrophobic the silicon dioxide is suspended in a diluent vehicle like mineral or silicone oil. Surfactants and wetting agents are added.

Zeoflo TL is used directly as an additive to the defoamer because it is already hydrophobic. A high-speed stirrer is used for the dispersion.

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