Types of Defoamers: The 3 Major Categories You Should Know

Types of Defoamers – A Technical Classification

Defoamers such as GP330 and Defoamer King FAG470, along with many polyether-based emulsifiers, possess foam-suppressing properties. So, what are the main categories of defoamers?

Jihua Net’s Defoamer Classification

Defoamers come in a wide variety and can be broadly classified into three major categories based on their properties and performance:

A. Organic Defoamers (1st Generation)

This category includes:

• Mineral oils (e.g., kerosene, turpentine, liquid paraffin) – widely used in papermaking and textile printing.

• Fatty acids/esters (e.g., tallow, lard, soybean oil, castor oil) – applied in papermaking, dyeing, architectural coatings, and fermentation.

• Alcohols (e.g., coconut alcohol, hexanol, cyclohexanol) – used in sugar refining, fermentation, and petroleum processing.

• Amides (e.g., polyamides, distearyl ethylene diamine) – effective in industrial foam control.

B. Silicone-Based Defoamers

Silicone defoamers are extensively used in:

• Textile dyeing & finishing

• Food processing

• Fermentation

• Papermaking

• Chemical production

• Adhesives & lubricants

Key Insight: Pure silicone oils (e.g., dimethicone) are not inherently defoaming, but when emulsified, their surface tension drops sharply, enabling highly efficient foam suppression at low dosages.

C. Polyether-Modified Siloxane Defoamers (Latest Generation)

These are currently the most advanced defoamers, featuring:

• Siloxane segments (lipophilic) + polyether segments (hydrophilic)

• Adjustable chain ratios to tailor performance

• Low toxicity & eco-friendly formulations

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