Airase™ SSDL™ defoamers - Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

Airase SSDL defoamers
Solve foaming problems
with pinpoint accuracy

Airase SSDL defoamers
Introducing the structured siloxane
defoamer line (SSDL) defoamers
Whether your goal is reducing production or application foam, eliminating microfoam
or defects caused by other defoamers, the structured approach offered
by the Airase SSDL defoamers can quickly help you find a solution.
The Airase SSDL defoamers are a line of formulated, siloxane-based defoamers
for coatings, inks, adhesives and other industrial specialty applications. These
products have been designed to have predictable performance relative to each
other to allow formulators to take a systematic approach to defoamer selection.
Each product in this line has a different balance of defoaming strength
and formulation compatibility for optimal defoaming performance in
different formulations.
Ideal for water-based
applications, including:
Paints
Millbases
Colorants
Coatings
Inks
Adhesives

Table 1: Typical Properties of Airase SSDL Defoamers
Appearance
Viscosity at
21 °C, cPs
Specific
Gravity at
21 °C
Airase 5100
Defoamer
Opaque
Liquid
Airase 5200
Defoamer
Slightly Hazy
Liquid
The Airase SSDL defoamers and initial
product selection
The Airase SSDL defoamers consist of seven defoamers, each designed to meet
the specific defoaming and compatibility requirements of different applications.
Airase 5100 and 5200 defoamers are both very strong defoamers, designed
for applications where strong defoaming is required but compatibility
is not an issue or the defoamers can be incorporated with high shear. Airase
5300 and 5400 defoamers are strong defoamers with good compatibility for
applications where shear stability is required. Airase 5500 and 5600 defoamers
have good compatibility for applications where balance between defoaming
and surface defect-free appearance is needed, while Airase 5700 defoamer is
designed for applications that are very sensitive to craters and other surface
defects.
All of the Airase defoamers are low-viscosity, easy-to-handle liquids that are
APEO- and HAPs-free and contribute zero VOC per EPA method 24. The products
have improved pH stability compared to many conventional silicone
defoamers and are designed to have excellent stability and persistency in
coating and ink formulations. The typical handling and physical properties of
the Airase defoamers are shown in Table 1. Product descriptions are included in
Table 2, and guidelines for initial product selection are shown in Figure 1.
Airase 5300
Defoamer
Clear
Liquid
Airase 5400
Defoamer
Clear Light
Yellow Liquid
Airase 5500
Defoamer
Slightly Hazy
Liquid
Airase 5600
Defoamer
Slightly Hazy
Liquid
Airase 5700
Defoamer
Slightly Hazy
Liquid
400–800 500–900 500–900 450–900 450–900 200–500 100–400
1.0 1.04 0.99 0.99 0.98 0.97 0.98
Pour Point, °C –15 –14.9 –14.7 –10.7 –9.2 –14.3 –14.8

Table 2: Airase SSDL Defoamer Product Descriptions
Product Description Use Level wt %
Airase 5100 Defoamer The strongest defoamer of the SSDL defoamer series. Designed for applications where 0.05–0.5
strong defoaming is required and the formulations are not sensitive to cratering.
Airase 5200 Defoamer Designed for applications where strong defoaming is required and the formulations 0.05–0.5
are not particularly sensitive to cratering. Provides excellent long-term, persistent
defoaming in formulations. Better film compatibility than Airase 5100 defoamer.
Airase 5300 Defoamer Designed for applications where strong defoaming is required with good long-term 0.05–0.5
persistency, especially in high shear applications.
Airase 5400 Defoamer Designed for applications where strong defoaming is required with good long-term 0.05–0.5
persistency, especially in high shear applications. Better film compatibility than
Airase 5300 defoamer.
Airase 5500 Defoamer Can be incorporated in the grind or used as a let-down defoamer. Designed for 0.05–0.5
applications where good defoaming is required with good long-term persistency
and film compatibility.
Airase 5600 Defoamer Can be incorporated in the let-down of a coating or ink. Airase 5600 defoamer 0.1–0.5
provides an excellent balance of effective defoaming and film compatibility.
Airase 5700 Defoamer Formulated for incorporation in the let-down of a coating or ink, and has the best 0.1–0.6
compatibility in the SSDL defoamer series. Airase 5700 defoamer provides an
excellent balance of effective defoaming and film compatibility.
Figure 1: Initial Defoamer Selection Criteria: Greater Incompatibility Increases Defoaming Effectiveness, while
Greater Compatibility Increases Film Quality, Minimizes Issues
High Shear Moderate Shear Low Shear
High Viscosities Low Viscosities
Thick Films
Harder to Defoam
High Filler : Binder Ratio Low Filler : Binder Ratio
5100 5200 5300 5400
Easier to Wet Surfaces Lower Filler : Binder Ratio
Airase SSDL Defoamer
Lower Shear
Thin Films
5500 5600 5700

Balance of defoaming strength
and compatibility
The selection of the defoamer for a given formulation depends
on finding a product with an optimal balance of defoaming effectiveness
and final film or surface appearance (compatibility).
The Airase SSDL defoamers are a series of siloxane-based defoamers
that defoam aqueous formulations by a combination of
different methods shown in Figure 2. The products also contain
other components to improve defoamer stability, incorporation
and compatibility. The performance of an Airase defoamer in a
given formulation will be influenced by many factors, including
the ratio of pigment to vehicle (carrier) in the liquid formulation,
formulation viscosity, binder chemistry and content, pH and
the presence of other additives, and how the defoamer is mixed
into the formulation. The substrate can also influence defoamer
performance upon application.
Figure 2: Defoaming
Mechanisms
Carrier fluid that spreads across and
bridges lamella, forming an unstable
film that is easily ruptured
Hydrophobic particles that bridge
lamella and cause rupture by
dewetting
Nonfoamy surfactants that can
displace foam-stabilizing
surfactants

Predictable performance
can enable faster selection
Each Airase SSDL defoamer is formulated to give consistent
performance relative to the other products in
the line, so that formulators can take a systematic approach
to defoamer selection. If one product in the line
does not give sufficient foam control, the formulator
can try the next product in the line (lower number) for
stronger defoaming performance. Similarly, if
a product in the line gives film defects, such as
craters or fisheyes, the next product in the line (higher
number) should be more compatible in the formulation.
This performance predictability is summarized
in Figure 3.
Figure 3: Predicting Performance in Different Formulations
Airase SSDL Defoamer
Paint Grinds
Flat Paints
5100
5200
5300
5400
5500
5600
5700
Foam
Difficult-to-Defoam
Formulations
Colorants
Semigloss Paints
Inks
Wood Coatings
Clear Coats
Excellent
Performance
Plastic Coatings
Automotive OEM
Defects
Sensitive
Formulations

Performance tests
Example 1 – Figure 4 shows the performance of the Airase
SSDL defoamers in two interior paint formulations, one
with 75% PVC and the other 45% PVC. The foam ranking
is based on a combination of foam tests, including grind
foam, let-down foam and foam in roller applied paint film;
film quality is measured by a visual assessment of surface
defects. In both cases, the reference is the blank sample
without defoamer, which gave the maximum foam (rated
0) and no surface defects (rated 10). In the flat paint (75%
PVC), which has a high filler-to-binder ratio, none of the
tested defoamers caused surface defects, and the strongest
products, Airase 5200 and 5100 defoamers, gave the
best defoaming performance. However, in the satin paint,
with a lower filler-to-binder ratio, these strongest defoamers
gave some craters, and Airase 5400 defoamer, a more
compatible defoamer, gave the best all-around performance
in these tests.
Example 2 – Figure 5 shows the performance of the Airase
defoamers in a clear parquet floor lacquer, where the effects
of defoamer incompatibility are more pronounced. In
this example, Airase 5700 defoamer, the most compatible
defoamer, gives both the most effective foam control and
the best surface appearance in these tests.
Figure 5: Airase SSDL Defoamer Performance in a
Parquet Lacquer Formulation
Roller Applied Drawdown
Figure 4: Airase SSDL Defoamer Performance in
Interior Paints (75% PVC and 45% PVC)
Defoaming Ability
Defoaming Ability
10
8
6
4
2
0
0
10
8
6
4
2
0
0
5200
5100 5300
5400
5600
2 4 6 8
5700
Blank
10
Film Quality (defect rate)
5100
5200
Film Quality (defect rate)
5300
5400
5600
5700
2 4 6 8
Blank
10

For more information ,
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© Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., 2012 (35167) 120-12-050-GLB
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The information contained herein is offered without charge for use by technically qualified
personnel at their discretion and risk. All statements, technical information and recommendations
contained herein are based on tests and data which we believe to be reliable, but the accuracy or
completeness thereof is not guaranteed and no warranty of any kind is made with respect thereto.
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