How to choose defoamer for adhesive? 

Antifoaming agents are substances with lower surface tension and higher surface activity, which can inhibit and eliminate foam in liquids, which means that antifoaming agents can reduce the surface tension of water, solutions, suspensions, etc so then some bubbles are eliminated. Sometimes defoaming is also called anti-foaming agent. The time of anti-foaming is the main symbol of the quality of the antifoaming agent. In most cases, the key property of anti-foaming agent is to evaluate the time of foam suppression, rather than the initial time of killing foam. But defoaming and foam suppression are relative. Gernarally speaking, products with good defoaming performance will have relatively poor foam suppressing performance.

Emulsion Polymerization defoamer
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What kind of defoamer for adhesive?

Some components of water-based adhesives are easy to produce bubbles and have a tendency to be stable and lasting. In addition, the rapid stirring during production and the high-speed brushing construction during use also contribute to the generation of foam, which prevents the production from proceeding normally and affects the product quality. The formation of foam is very difficult to produce and apply tape, and the pores of the adhesive layer appear, which affects the outside of the product and the adhesive performance. Therefore, it is necessary to try to destroy the foam or prevent the generation of foam. The most effective method is to use an antifoam agent.

Silicone defoamers have strong defoaming and anti-foaming performance, and are widely used in the coating industry. In the water-based adhesive industry, especially emulsion-type low-viscosity systems, such as laminating adhesives and pressure-sensitive adhesives, it is easy to cause problems such as shrinkage and fish eyes. In addition, after the film formation of the emulsion, due to the surface migration of silane, it will cause a decrease in the bonding strength at a later stage and affect the bonding effect, so it is generally rarely used.

Mineral oil defoamers are commonly used in the water-based pressure-sensitive adhesive and laminating adhesive industries. It is mainly composed of mineral oil, hydrophobic particles, fatty alcohol, emulsifier, etc. The quality of these products is susceptible to mineral oil grades and batch differences. Because the entire system is a thermodynamically unstable system, it is easy to delaminate. It mainly depends on its dispersion in the emulsion to provide defoaming effect. The effect of surfactants, mineral oil defoamers are easy to slick in these systems, which will cause the defoaming effect to decrease seriously, and the uneven distribution of mineral oil will also affect the coating effect, which gives our production And application cause great trouble.

INVINO Defoamer for adhesive

INVINO-DEFOAMER INGREDIENT ACTIVE SOLID (%) APPLICATION
INVINO-G10 Non-silicone 99.0 Water-based pressure-sensitive adhesive

Equivalent as Basf Foamaster 8034

INVINO-G202 Silicone 30.0±2.0 Water-based adhesive
INVINO-523D Silicone 20.0±2.0 Resin Emulsion
REQUEST SAFETY DATA SHEETS (MSDS)

Q&A: Defoaming Low-Viscosity Adhesives

Q: Will the defoamer cause "fish eyes" or shrinkage cavities?
This is the biggest risk with low-viscosity acrylics. Incompatible mineral oils often cause surface tension unevenness, leading to craters. We strongly recommend our **Modified Polysiloxane** or **Polyether** series. They offer excellent "compatibility" and "leveling" properties, ensuring the adhesive wets the release liner smoothly without defects.
Q: Is it suitable for high-speed curtain or gravure coating?
Yes. High-speed coating (e.g., >200m/min) generates intense "dynamic foam" due to air entrapment at the nip. Our defoamers are designed with fast **Bubble Break Time**, effectively knocking down micro-foam instantly before the adhesive film dries or cures.
Q: Will it negatively affect the Peel Strength or Tack?
No. We use "Zero-Residue" formulations. Unlike traditional waxes that might migrate to the interface and reduce adhesion, our adhesive-grade defoamers are chemically inert and do not interfere with the cross-linking of the polymer, preserving the original holding power and peel strength.
Q: Should I use Mineral Oil or Silicone for Acrylic emulsion?
For low-end construction glues, Mineral Oil is cost-effective. However, for **Pressure Sensitive Adhesives (PSA)** and laminating adhesives, **Mineral Oil is risky** (haze/defects). We recommend **Modified Silicones** or **Star-Polymer** defoamers for the best balance of clarity and foam control.
Q: How do I ensure the defoamer disperses well in low-viscosity glue?
In low-viscosity systems, poorly dispersed defoamers float to the top (oiling out). Our products are formulated as **Self-Emulsifying** concentrates. They disperse easily with mild agitation, forming a stable micro-emulsion that remains suspended uniformly throughout the pot life of the adhesive.