Section
| HS Code | 223157 |
| Product Name | XAF-102 |
| Chemical Family | Silicone antifoam for high-alkali systems |
| Appearance | Milky-white to pale-yellow opaque viscous liquid |
| Active Content | 100% |
| Viscosity At 25 C | 500–2000 mPa·s |
| Specific Gravity At 25 C | 1.00–1.05 |
| Ph Of 1 Percent Dispersion | 6.0–8.0 |
| Ionic Character | Nonionic |
| Self Dispersibility | Readily self-disperses in high-alkali aqueous media without auxiliary emulsifier |
| Alkali Resistance | Effective in 10–30% NaOH or KOH systems |
| Temperature Resistance | Stable at temperatures up to 100°C |
| Shelf Life | 12 months in original sealed container at 5–35°C |
As an accredited XAF-102 100% Active Self-Dispersing Silicone Antifoam–High-Alkali Systems factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | XAF-102 high-alkali silicone antifoam is packaged in 55-gallon drums, 5-gallon pails, and 275-gallon totes for flexible industrial use. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | 20′ FCL: 80 drums (200L each) on pallets, total 16 metric tons, safely secured for XAF-102 silicone antifoam export. |
| Shipping | XAF-102 ships in sealed pails, drums, or IBC totes. It is typically non-hazardous; however, avoid contact with strong oxidizers during transport. Keep containers upright, protected from moisture, extreme heat, and freezing. Ensure secure palletization and proper labeling to prevent leaks or damage in transit. |
| Storage | Store XAF-102 in its original, tightly sealed container in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight and incompatible materials. Maintain temperatures between 5–40°C; avoid freezing and excessive heat. Prevent water or moisture ingress, as contamination can impair performance. Use within recommended shelf life and keep containers upright to minimize spillage. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life is 12 months from manufacture date when stored in original unopened containers, protected from freezing and direct sunlight. |
Recirculated alkaline cleaning baths formulated with 40–80 g/L NaOH or KOH at 65–85 °C generate dense foam under spray impingement at 2.0–4.5 bar, particularly when the bath load includes sulfated fatty alcohol or alkyl polyglucoside wetting agents. XAF-102 is metered into the drag-out-compensated bath at 0.05–0.3 g/L of working solution, typically starting at 0.1 g/L for a 2,000–5,000 L immersion tank with 8–12 nozzle spray risers. The 100% active self-dispersing silicone phase localizes at the air/liquid interface without forming insoluble agglomerates on the part surface; this limitation is critical because residual silicone film on ferrous substrates prior to acid pickling can produce skip plating in cyanide copper or zinc-nickel strike baths. On production lines using continuous filtration at 50–100 µm bag filter rating, the antifoam is added either via dosing pump into the return channel or directly into the spray sump; the preferred injection point is downstream of the filter to avoid premature removal by particulate cake. Foam height is monitored in-line by capacitance probes or ultrasonic foam sensors triggering intermittent dosing of 0.01–0.05 g/L increments at 30–60 s intervals when foam exceeds 15% of tank freeboard. Compliance with cleaning specifications is verified through ASTM B322, and part cleanliness is quantified according to ISO 16232 using gravimetric or particle count on extracted filter membranes. Material compliance for European manufacturing sites is documented under REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, and plated components must meet substance restrictions under RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU. Terminal products include zinc-nickel electroplated brake caliper brackets, alkaline-cleaned ABS sensor housings prior to electroless nickel, and zinc-iron coated fasteners for seatbelt retractor assemblies. Spent cleaning bath discharge requires evaluation under local trade effluent limits; silicone antifoam contributes low BOD and is usually removed by coagulation at pH 3–5 with ferric chloride.
Foam in mercerizing saturators is not caused by sodium hydroxide alone; it arises from wetting-agent deaeration and shear at the fabric entry nip when caustic concentration is maintained at 22–26 wt% and temperature is held at 15–25 °C to maximize luster. In a 3,000–8,000 L saturator recirculating at 800–1,500 L/min through indirect cooling, entrained air is converted into persistent foam because the low temperature raises liquid viscosity from approximately 2.5 mPa·s to 5–8 mPa·s and stabilizes lamellae. XAF-102 is added continuously to the saturator overflow at 0.1–0.5 g/L of working bath, with an alternative dosage basis of 0.2–0.8 wt% on the active wetting agent. The addition rate is trimmed against foam decay time measured by pouring a 500 mL sample into a 1 L graduated cylinder and recording collapse to 10 mL; target collapse time is less than 20 s. Mercerizing ranges processing cotton woven fabric at 60–100 m/min require periodic bath bleed and replenishment; silicone antifoam is not volatilized in the fabric pre-drying section, which reduces pad-roll recontamination. Compliance in textile wet processing is assessed through ZDHC MRSL 3.1 conformance screening, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 residual substance testing under Annex 4, and ASTM E2407 foam knockdown for process liquor. Terminal outputs include mercerized cotton poplin for high-gloss shirting, caustic-recovered woven twill, fire-retardant treated cotton base cloth, and open-width knit goods for reactive dyeing. Process limitations include accelerated silicone deposition on fabric if bath calcium content exceeds 200 mg/L as CaCO₃; in such cases sequencing with softened water is required.
In kraft pulp brownstock washing and oxygen delignification, black liquor dry solids of 12–25 wt% carry residual sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide at effective pH values from 13.0 to 13.8, and the liquor is agitated across vacuum drum washers, filtrate tanks, and pressure screens. Foaming is most severe in the first-stage filtrate tank during high-temperature blow tank discharge and in oxygen delignification reactors at 80–100 °C and 600–900 kPa oxygen partial pressure. XAF-102 is evaluated in mill trials at a starting point of 0.1–0.3 kg per tonne of air-dried pulp, introduced into the filtrate tank or washer seal pit after the foam has been mechanically broken by a vacuum separator; this location prevents silicone depletion by entrained fiber mat. Unlike fatty acid or polyglycol-based pulp defoamers, the 100% active silicone composition does not contribute additional sodium soap or COD beyond the silicone carbon load. Production equipment includes five-stage countercurrent brownstock washers with 2–4 m drum diameters and 50–70% displacement efficiency; foaming disrupts vacuum pull, reduces shower penetration, and creates spill risk at filtrate overflow. Pulp mill chemical carry-over is monitored by TAPPI T 650 for black liquor solids and ISO 1762 for residual ash after ignition. Terminal products include unbleached kraft pulp, linerboard, sack kraft paper, and dissolving pulp for viscose production. Published data for this specific configuration is limited; mill-scale confirmation of dose is required because black liquor solids, residual weak black liquor temperature, and sodium lignate concentration alter antifoam demand by up to 50% between hardwood and softwood campaigns.
Continuous batch tunnel washers processing healthcare linen operate at 60–75 °C main wash and use built detergent containing 20–35 g/L sodium hydroxide, 10–20 g/L sodium metasilicate, and 5–10 g/L ethoxylated alcohol, producing a peak pH of 11.5–12.5. Foam generated during the diagonal/transversal washing action of a 50–80 kg per compartment tunnel washer reduces mechanical action and can trigger pressure faults in water extraction presses operating at 30–50 bar. XAF-102 is formulated into the detergent at 0.05–0.2 wt% of the as-supplied liquid, or injected directly into the main wash sump at 0.1–0.3 g/L of water charge. In direct injection, the self-dispersing silicone antifoam is preferably dosed after the detergent injection manifold and before the first wash module, so that it is present when the nonionic surfactant reaches its cloud point at 55–65 °C. Industrial laundry standards include ISO 15797:2018 for workwear wash processing and EU Ecolabel detergents under Regulation (EC) No 66/2010, though specific residue limits for silicone in treated linen may be set by the end-user cleanroom specification. Terminal products are washed healthcare textiles, HACCP-compliant industrial workwear, cleanroom gowns, and reusable incontinence care products. An operational boundary is that silicone antifoam should not be overdosed beyond 0.5 g/L because hydrophobic residues on cotton fabric can reduce absorbency and interfere with later oxygen-based bleach activation.
At 70–90 °C and 50–200 g/L sodium hydroxide, alkaline paint stripping of rejected automotive body panels and alloy wheels typically also contains 10–30 g/L sodium gluconate and 5–15 g/L of an alkaline-stable surfactant blend; foam originates from hydrolyzed polyester/polyurethane binder and surfactant release from the stripped coating. Unlike solvent-based stripping formulations, the aqueous high-alkali bath is agitated by air sparging or pumped circulation at 5–10 turnover volumes per hour, which creates stable foam in the headspace. XAF-102 is added at 0.05–0.2 wt% of the bath initial charge and then maintained by a peristaltic dosing pump at 0.01–0.03 wt% per 24 h or per coating load; target foam suppression is a foam layer below 5 cm in the main tank. The product is introduced at the weir or return line, not into the air sparger, to avoid mechanical shear degrading the silicone polymer before it reaches the surface. Stripped parts are rinsed in countercurrent alkaline rinses, then acid pickled in 5–10 wt% phosphoric acid, and phosphate conversion coated; any silicone remaining on the surface is removed during acid pickling if the rinse stage is operating above 40 °C. Industry standards referenced in these operations include ISO 4628 for coating defect evaluation and ISO 8501 for cleanliness of steel substrates after stripping, while final e-coat adhesion is verified by ASTM D3359 cross-cut or pull-off test. Terminal product types are reworked alloy wheels for two-piece automotive assemblies, stripped e-coated steel brackets, repaintable bumper reinforcement beams, and aircraft landing gear components after overhaul stripping. Use is generally restricted where residual silicone on the substrate cannot be tolerated by downstream powder coating unless a subsequent acidic or solvent wipe is validated.
In dairy, brewery, and beverage plants, clean-in-place circuits run 1.5–3.5 wt% NaOH at 60–85 °C at turbulent flow velocities of 1.5–3.0 m/s; the same chemistry supports bottle washers operating at 1.0–2.5 wt% NaOH with intermittent jetting and rinsing. Foam in these closed circuits is undesirable because air entrainment reduces pump head, accelerates cavitation in centrifugal pumps, and leaves tenacious residue on conductivity probes and level sensors. XAF-102 is used at 0.05–0.20 wt% of the formulated CIP detergent or 50–200 ppm in the recirculating wash solution, with continuous dosing during the caustic circulation step only; no addition is made during acid rinse. Self-dispersing behavior under caustic conditions is relevant because the product must disperse without forming hydrophobic droplets that can plate out on spray balls, plate heat exchanger gaskets, or PET bottle surfaces. In food-processing equipment, residual carry-over is controlled by final potable water rinse and verified by surface ATP swabs or conductivity; product approval may be required under FDA 21 CFR 173.340 for indirect food contact or equivalent regional positive lists, while CIP detergent formulators may apply ISO 22000:2018 HACCP-based hygiene risk assessment. Terminal products include aseptic PET beverage bottles, stainless steel dairy silos, plate heat exchangers, brewery fermentation vessels, and tunnel pasteurizer conveyors. Overdosing above 200 ppm in bottle washer caustic can increase rinse water demand and may interact with ammonia-based descaling additives; published data for silicone carry-over in aseptic PET lines is limited and requires line-specific rinse validation.
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XAF-102 is supplied as a 100% active self-dispersing silicone antifoam formulated for high-alkali aqueous systems. Unlike conventional silicone emulsions, the product contains no water, no hydrocarbon diluent, and no ester-based external emulsifier. Self-dispersibility is obtained through polyether-modified siloxane segments that form a microfine dispersion under the shear generated by recirculation pumps or in-line mixers. This structural approach removes the saponification-sensitive emulsifier shell that typically fails in sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide solutions above pH 12. The product is intended for continuous or semi-continuous dosing into caustic bottle-washing baths, clean-in-place circuits, textile scouring liquors, and alkaline metal-cleaning lines operating between 60 °C and 90 °C. Because the active content is 100%, the feed rate can be reduced relative to water-extended emulsion products, but the minimum effective dose must be confirmed under actual foam dynamics.
Class-typical physical properties for this product type include kinematic viscosity at 25 °C between 500 mm²/s and 1,500 mm²/s by ASTM D445, density at 20 °C between 0.98 g/cm³ and 1.03 g/cm³ by ASTM D4052, and a 1% dispersion pH of 6.0–8.0. Product-specific values for XAF-102 must be taken from the batch certificate of analysis. The safety data sheet may list a class-range flash point above 100 °C. Because no water is present, the product has no emulsion freeze boundary, but storage below 5 °C may raise viscosity and require warming to room temperature before pumping.
In caustic cleaning systems, conventional silicone emulsions are destabilized primarily by alkaline hydrolysis of their ester-functional emulsifiers, such as sorbitan monolaurate and polysorbate derivatives. The alkali attacks the ester linkage, releasing fatty-acid soaps and polyol fragments. Those degradation products act as additional foam stabilizers and can raise detergent viscosity, thereby opposing the defoaming action of the silicone oil. At high temperature and high alkalinity, this hydrolysis can occur within minutes to hours; the exact rate depends on sodium hydroxide concentration, bath temperature, surfactant load, and emulsion droplet size. Once the emulsifier shell is degraded, the silicone oil phase may coalesce into floating films, deposit on spray nozzles, or adhere to heating coils. XAF-102 does not depend on a saponifiable emulsifier shell. The polyether-modified siloxane segments are relatively stable under alkaline conditions because polyether linkages are less susceptible to hydroxide attack than ester linkages. This difference allows the product to be added directly to alkaline liquors without pre-emulsification, provided that shear is available to generate the dispersion.
In sodium hydroxide-based metalworking fluid reclaimers and aluminum etch systems, the product may be exposed to dissolved aluminum. Silicone defoamers can interact with freshly precipitated aluminum hydroxide, producing white deposits if the dose is above the minimum effective level. Published data for this specific configuration is limited, but visual inspection of heat exchanger surfaces after trial is required before full production use.
In continuous bottle-washing and clean-in-place applications, the product is metered into the recirculation line with a positive-displacement pump, preferably at a point immediately before the recirculating pump or in a high-velocity section so that mechanical shear creates the dispersion. Initial evaluations often begin between 50 mg/L and 300 mg/L of bath charge; however, published data for XAF-102-specific optima in a given cleaning formula are limited, and the minimum effective concentration should be established by a recirculating foam-cell test using ASTM E2407 at the operating temperature. The product must not be pre-diluted with cold water, because cold-water dilution can generate a temporary gel phase that blocks metering lines and delays dispersion. Hard water containing more than 300 mg/L calcium carbonate, measured by ASTM D1126, may reduce dispersion quality and should be evaluated before scale-up. The feed rate is adjusted to maintain foam height below the spray-nozzle entrainment limit; a variable-stroke or variable-speed pump is recommended for systems where foam generation fluctuates with soil load and detergent addition.
Spray-intensive alkaline cleaning generates foam through air entrainment at nozzle tips, recirculation tank splashing, and soil-derived protein or surfactant loading. The defoaming mechanism of XAF-102 relies on the silicone droplet spreading at the air–liquid interface and thinning the foam lamellae. Silicone fluids used in this product class typically exhibit surface tension between 20 mN/m and 22 mN/m at 25 °C, measured by ASTM D1331; this is low enough to displace many surfactant monolayers, but the minimum effective concentration is not fixed because detergent type, soil protein content, pump speed, and spray pressure alter foam stability. Underdosing leaves lamellae intact and produces rapid foam rebound after the antifoam film is consumed; overdosing can invert the effect by creating dispersed silicone-rich films that act as hydrophobic nucleation sites for soil adhesion. The usable operating window is therefore narrower than for conventional emulsion products and should be mapped by dose-response trials. In recirculating systems, shock feeding may produce temporary foam collapse followed by rebound, whereas continuous feeding at a lower rate sustains lamella destabilization without accumulating silicone at the air–oil interface. Temperature affects both surface tension and emulsion droplet size; above 80 °C, the dispersion may become coarser, so in-line shear is more important than in ambient-temperature systems.
In high-alkali environments, the product is intended to remain effective in 5–50% sodium hydroxide solutions. The upper limit is constrained by viscosity build-up of the cleaning bath and by the altered adsorption kinetics of surfactants on silicone droplets. Potassium hydroxide systems, often used in aluminum-sensitive cleaning, may require lower doses because potassium soaps formed from soil fatty acids are strong foam stabilizers. Published data for XAF-102 in potassium hydroxide-based systems with high fatty-acid soil load are limited; a pilot trial is required before specifying a dose for production-scale lines.
Mineral-oil antifoams, organic polyether antifoams, and conventional silicone emulsions differ from XAF-102 in active content, alkali resistance, and deposit tendency. Mineral-oil products introduce a hydrocarbon fraction that can increase total organic carbon in the effluent and leave oily films on stainless-steel surfaces. Organic polyether defoamers may disperse well but generally lose effectiveness above 80 °C in strongly alkaline conditions because their hydrogen-bonding interactions with water change and their interfacial adsorption weakens. Conventional silicone emulsions carry 30–70% water and an ester-based emulsifier, which imposes the saponification failure described above. XAF-102 avoids the water and ester emulsifier burden, and its 100% active content means that the silicone dose can be delivered without large-volume water addition. The trade-off is that the undiluted product requires tighter metering control and cannot be simply poured into standing cold tanks without shear.
If alkaline cleaning solutions are later routed to reverse osmosis or nanofiltration, residual antifoam droplets can interact with polyamide membrane surfaces. Silicone-based defoamers are generally recognized as potential membrane foulants when dosed above the minimum effective concentration, because the dispersed microdroplets can attach to hydrophobic membrane domains and raise normalized differential pressure. Published data for XAF-102 in this specific configuration is limited, but the risk is process-dependent and should be evaluated by a membrane fouling study using a flat-sheet cell or a single-element pilot. A conservative design approach is to dose the product at the minimum concentration that achieves the required foam collapse time and to install a 10–25 µm in-line filter before the membrane stage. The filter protects high-pressure membranes and also captures soil particles released from the cleaning line. Alkaline cleaners that contain polyamine dispersants, strongly cationic surfactants, or high levels of fatty-acid soap may alter the product’s self-dispersing behavior, so formulations containing these components should be tested for dispersion stability by measuring turbidity and droplet size over time. Droplet size after in-line mixing should remain in the submicron-to-low-micron range; larger aggregates indicate incompatibility or insufficient shear.
In comparative foam-cell testing by ASTM E2407, silicone-based products generally achieve faster foam collapse than polyether types in high-alkali detergent solutions; however, the residual silicone can be more persistent on downstream surfaces. For systems where no silicone is allowed, a non-silicone product should be selected despite lower alkali persistence. In textile scouring, residual silicone may affect dye uptake; a wicking test or contact-angle measurement should be used to verify acceptable rinseability before bulk use.
The product class is subject to the following regulatory and testing framework. Product-specific confirmation of compliance must be obtained from the supplier, because final composition and manufacturing location may affect regulatory status.
| Standard or Regulation | Scope | XAF-102 Class Applicability | Verification Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 | Registration, evaluation, and authorization of chemical substances in the European Union | Silicone polymer and polyether-modified siloxane components are subject to registration where applicable | Confirm registration number on safety data sheet |
| FDA 21 CFR 173.340 | Defoaming agents used in food processing | Class-level suitability possible for direct or incidental contact depending on composition | Request product-specific FDA clearance letter |
| RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU | Restriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment | No intentional addition of lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls, or polybrominated diphenyl ethers expected | Supplier declaration of conformity |
| ASTM E2407 | Foam-control efficacy test method | Used for dose screening in aqueous systems | Batch release testing or user qualification |
| NSF/ANSI/CAN 60 | Chemicals for drinking water treatment | Not assumed unless specific grade is certified | Do not use in potable water unless certified |
For storage, keep containers sealed at 5–40 °C, protect from freezing, and avoid exposure to direct sunlight. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles may cause partial separation of the polyether-silicone matrix; such material should not be mixed into an alkaline bath without re-evaluation. The product is not intended for use in strong-acid pickling baths, should not be combined with concentrated acids or chlorinated solvents, and may be incompatible with high-cationic flocculants used in wastewater treatment. If the product is transferred to a day tank, the tank and feed lines should be stainless steel or fluoropolymer-lined; avoid copper and aluminum fittings during storage, although alkaline cleaning baths may contain aluminum components at controlled temperature and concentration. The system should be drained and rinsed before switching from a conventional emulsion antifoam to XAF-102, because residual emulsifier from the previous product can interfere with the self-dispersing mechanism and produce transient foam stability.
