Emulsifiers for Emulsion Polymerization

DEFOAMERS AND ANTIFOAMS

PRODUCT NAME	TYPE	FORM AT 25 C	APPLICATION
Vanfoam DF 40	Silicon	White to off white emulsion	Highly effective defoamer with universal applicability
Vanfoam DF Star	Silicon	Milky white emulsion	Economical defoamer with excellent foam knock-down. Used for paint manufacture in milling.
Vanfoam DF 147	Silicon	Milky white emulsion	Concentrated defoamer used in pigment and printing ink processing.
Vanfoam DF 022	Silicon / Polyether blend	Grey dispersion	VOC free silicon containing defoamer used in aqueous coatings, printing inks and adhesives. Highly concentrated.
Vanfoam DF 024	Silicon / Polyether blend	Grey dispersion	VOC free silicon containing defoamer for aqueous emulsion lacquers, printing inks, overprint varnishes, and emulsion adhesives.
Vanfoam DF 45	Silicon	White to off white emulsion	General-purpose antifoam. Economical and highly effective.
Vanfoam SD	Silicon	Milky white emulsion	Excellent defoamer used in manufacture of emulsions.
Vanfoam S 710	Silicon	White to off white emulsion	Highly effective industrial grade antifoam. Can be used in water treatment, effuent treatment, formulations etc.
Vanfoam DF 30	Silicon	White to off white emulsion	Economical defoamer to be used in textile applications.
Vanfoam DF 350	Silicon	Milky white emulsion	Excellent silicon antifoam to be used in the textile industry. Long-term durability in acidic and alkaline conditions.
Vanfoam DF 36	Mineral Oil	Yellow to amber dispersion	Effcient defoamer with permanent effect for coatings.
Vanfoam DF 38	Mineral Oil	Yellow to amber dispersion	Highly effective and versatile defoamer; can be used in emulsion polymerization application. Also used in paper coatings as a defoamer
Vanfoam DF 835	Mineral Oil	Pale yellow to amber dispersion	Excellent foam control properties for decorative coatings
Vanfoam DF 85	Mineral Oil	Off white to pale yellow dispersion	Universal application wax based defoamer
Spectra 6003	Polyether blend	Colorless to pale yellow liquid	Excellent antifoam to be used for fermentation process
Spectra 282	Special polyether blend	Off white, translucent liquid	Highly effcient antifoam for use in fermenters in biotech
Vanfoam S 471	Silicon based	Grey dispersion	Grey disSilicon based antifoam for aerobic fermentation processes. Can be used in aqueous and non aqueous systems. persion
Vanfoam S 2121	Polyether blend	Colorless to pale yellow liquid	Highly suitable in processes of extraction, juice clarification, sugar processing and molasses

Emulsion polymerization is a unique chemical process widely used to produce waterborne resins with various colloidal and physicochemical properties. This technique is used in the production of a wide range of speciality polymers which are used in adhesives, paints, binders for textiles, nonwoven fabrics, construction chemicals etc.

This process involves emulsification of the relatively hydrophobic monomer in water by an emulsifier, followed by the initiation reaction with a suitable initiator. The process of emulsification of monomers and stabilizing this emulsion is highly complex. Successful emulsification and its stabilization is dependent on the HLB value of the surfactant which is being used as the emulsifier. In addition to the HLB value, a variety of other factors also need to be taken into consideration while choosing an emulsifier which include the temperature at which emulsification is done, solvents used in the system, the pH at which the process is carried out among others.

Choosing the correct emulsifier for emulsion polymerization is crucial. Spectra provides a complete range of emulsifiers for emulsion polymerization. These products guarantee a high level of efficiency, consistency and provide value-added benefits.

APEO free emulsifiers for emulsion polymerization perform equally well as the APEO based products, but have an added advantage of being biodegradable. Slowly and steadily, the outlook of the industry is changing where the focus is now on developing APEO free alternatives to conventional APEO based emulsifiers. These products are based on ethoxylated straight chain and branched fatty alcohols. These products are nonionic as well as anionic.

These emuslifiers can be divided into two classes:

NONIONIC EMUSLIFIERS:

The primary advantages of using nonionic emulsifiers are their stability over a wide pH range and freeze thaw stability. Added benefits of nonionics are their stability to hard water and relatively less foaming character than the anionics. We have a wide range of nonionic products that encompass the entire HLB spectrum. These products are based on alkyl phenols, fatty alcohols, branched alcohols and esters. They are excellent emulsifiers which can work in both oil in water and water in oil systems. Specific products can be used at elevated temperatures, be compatible with a wide variety of solvents, or be stable at any pH.

ANIONIC EMULSIFIERS:

The main function of anionic emulsifiers is to produce a stable monomer emulsion and to prevent the formation of coagulum during the manufacturing process, in order to reduce grit levels. We have a wide variety of anionic surfactants in our basket. The primary advantages of using anionic surfactants are their ability to control the particle size in the emulsion and the added stability of the so formed emulsions. These products are based on ether sulfates, sulfonates, phosphate esters and sulfosuccinates.