Many industries use defoaming chemicals to keep their formulations stable. So whether you're making soap, paint, chemicals or even food products, you may be in the market for a good quality antifoam product. The key is to understand the different types of defoamers, and then know where to look to find the best ones on the market.

When shopping around for antifoam products, you may notice that there are dozens of different formulations available. They may be in powder or liquid form, and they may decrease the amount of foam or eliminate it all together. You'll see such products as:

1. Silicone defoamers

2. Antifoaming agents

3. Long-lasting defoamers

4. Foam reducers

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Educate yourself about the various types of antifoam products on the market

Typically, you'll see defoamers in either a liquid or a powder state. The colors vary depending on the ingredients, and they products are either water- or oil-based. Pay attention to the pH level of each product, as well as the recommended application for each type of defoamer. Keep in mind that defoamer will change the substance that you put it into, so you need to choose carefully.

I recommend: Learn about the different forms of defoaming chemicals. Taylor Chemical has an excellent website that lays out the different types of antifoams and what each one is used for. Dow Corning deals with all sorts of chemical applications and is another good resource to look into.

Buy antifoams in bulk to save money

As with most products, the more you buy, the more you can save. Get quotes from companies that sell antifoam products in varying quantities, and crunch the numbers to find out how much the chemical costs per ounce in each amount. If you need antifoam in multiple forms, you may still get a discount if you buy them from the same vendor, so make sure to ask ahead of time.

I recommend: Buy more to save more. Industrial Cleaners.com and Bulk Chemical Services both offer volume pricing to the buyer, so you know what you're getting into before placing an order.

Use a long lasting defoamer for staying power

Long lasting defoamers are particularly popular in food applications where the product will be heated and reheated and undergo a variety of changes over time. Long lasting defoamers are specially formulated for such applications, and are often preferred over traditional defoamers.

I recommend: Buy a long lasting defoamer for your food products. Chemco Products and Zibo GuoAo Biotechnology have several different configurations that are easier to dilute and use than traditional defoamers, which may give you more product for your money.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you're buying an antifoaming agent to use in food, make sure that it's approved for human consumption.