Organic silicone defoamers, or silicone-based defoamers, reduce the surface tension of liquids quite efficiently, which hampers the formation of foam. But how exactly? Let’s delve into the concept.

Foam is nothing but a mass of gas-filled bubbles formed at the surface of a liquid. It happens when particular types of molecules jam themselves between air and water, decreasing the surface tension and thereby stabilizing the foam bubbles. To eliminate this foam, we need something that can counter these stabilizing factors and destabilize the bubbles. That’s where silicone-based defoamers come in.

The silicone oil contained in a defoamer is a surface-active substance or surfactant, which means it can position itself at the boundary between air and the liquid. Due to its surfactant nature, it’s essentially surface active, reducing the tension between the two media.

When introduced to a foaming liquid, the silicone oil spreads swiftly across the surfaces of the foam bubbles. It creates a low surface tension layer that weakens the bubble wall of the foam, thereby destabilizing it. Consequently, the bubbles start to rupture, leading to the collapse of the foam.

Moreover, the silicone oil is hydrophobic (it repels water), which fortifies this defoaming action further. The defoaming agents work by inserting themselves into the gas-liquid interface of the foam bubble, reducing surface tension and causing the foam to disperse.

Therefore, the organic silicone defoamer, by reducing surface tension, speeds up the process of foam bursting and stops the formation of new foam, thus effectively combating foaming in various industries. The hydrophobic particles in the defoamer further facilitate this process by attracting and absorbing the substances causing the foam, thus accelerating the defoaming process.