Section
| HS Code | 947074 |
| Appearance | Translucent to opaque light-colored liquid |
| Active Silicone Content | 100% |
| Viscosity At 25c | 50–300 mPa·s |
| Specific Gravity At 25c | 0.90–1.00 |
| Solubility In Mek | Dispersible/soluble in methyl ethyl ketone |
| Flash Point | >100°C (closed cup) |
| Ph Value | 6.0–8.0 |
| Recommended Dosage | 0.1–0.8% of total formulation weight |
| Defoaming Effectiveness | Rapid foam knockdown and sustained suppression in MEK-based systems |
| Shelf Life | 12 months from production date when stored in unopened original container |
As an accredited FA-600 MEK-Solution Silicone Defoamer factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | FA-600 MEK-Solution Silicone Defoamer is supplied in 25 kg pails or 200 kg drums, securely sealed with hazard labeling. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | FA-600 MEK-Solution Silicone Defoamer is loaded into a 20′ FCL container, with palletized drums properly secured and labeled for safe transport. |
| Shipping | Ship as UN1193, Ethyl Methyl Ketone (MEK) solution, Class 3, Packing Group II. Use approved flammable-liquid drums or IBCs, grounded and labeled correctly. Keep away from ignition sources and oxidizers. Segregate from foodstuffs. Ensure ventilation and secure upright loading. Follow all applicable land, sea, or air transport regulations. |
| Storage | Store FA-600 MEK-Solution Silicone Defoamer in tightly sealed original containers in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from heat, sparks, open flames, and strong oxidizers. Keep containers upright and protected from direct sunlight and moisture. Avoid storage near incompatible materials. Ensure temperature remains stable and within manufacturer-recommended limits. Always consult the Safety Data Sheet for specific requirements. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life is 12 months from date of manufacture when stored unopened, tightly sealed, and out of direct sunlight. |
Foam in high-solids solvent-borne industrial coatings is generated by two distinct mechanisms: entrained air during Cowles high-shear pigment dispersion, and solvent flashing during spray application. Microfoam with bubble radii below 50 µm is particularly persistent because internal Laplace pressure scales inversely with bubble diameter and resists rupture by simple gravity drainage. FA-600, a methyl ethyl ketone–borne silicone defoamer, is incorporated as-supplied at 0.15–0.50 wt% of total batch weight, split between the grind stage (0.05–0.15 wt%) and the letdown stage (0.10–0.35 wt%). The grind-stage portion is added only after initial pigment wetting and before the Cowles blade reaches 18–25 m/s tip speed; the letdown portion is introduced after the batch has been thinned with a MEK/butyl acetate blend and cooled to 40°C or below. Production-scale equipment in this segment typically includes a stainless steel or lined mixing vessel, a slow-speed sweep agitator at 2–4 m/min peripheral speed, a horizontal bead mill for pigment dispersion, and a 50 µm bag filter to remove agglomerates and oversized particles. Industry compliance references include ISO 12944-5:2019 for corrosion protection of steel structures by protective paint systems, ASTM D523 for 60° specular gloss, ASTM D1210 for Hegman fineness of dispersion, and Directive 2004/42/EC Annex IIB for VOC content limits in solvent-borne industrial finishes. Terminal product types include two-component and one-component machinery enamels, agricultural equipment topcoats, structural steel maintenance primers, and chemical-resistant shop-applied finishes. A process-critical threshold exists at 0.60 wt% as-supplied addition: above this level, silicone migration to the coating–air interface can lower surface tension sufficiently to produce cratering in adjacent wet-on-wet layers and reduce intercoat adhesion. The same defect can appear at lower levels if the defoamer is added before pigment dispersion is complete or if the batch is subjected to high-shear recirculation after letdown. Published data for this specific FA-600 configuration is limited; the dosage window is a field-derived range for ketone-borne silicone defoamers in medium-polarity alkyd and acrylic industrial binder systems.
Solvent-based gravure and flexographic ink systems based on nitrocellulose, polyvinyl butyral, polyurethane, and ketone/ester solvent blends develop stable foam in enclosed doctor blade chambers, pump circulation loops, and high-speed printing at 150–350 m/min. FA-600 is added at 0.05–0.25 wt% of total ink, preferentially after resin dissolution and before viscosity adjustment with MEK/ethyl acetate to 18–28 s by ISO 2431:2019 (DIN 4 mm cup). The production process uses a low-shear propeller mixer at 300–600 rpm; high-shear milling after defoamer addition is not recommended because shear above 1,000 rpm strips the defoamer from the foam lamella interface and re-stabilizes microfoam. A 10 µm absolute filter is used before filling. Compliance includes EuPIA Good Manufacturing Practice for printing inks, REACH Annex XVII, and ISO 2846-2:2017 for colour and transparency of set inks. Terminal product types include surface-printed snack food packaging, shrink sleeve inks, and gravure lamination inks for PET/aluminium foil retort structures. The addition ceiling of 0.30 wt% is set by fisheye formation on corona-treated polyethylene or BOPP film and by loss of lamination bond strength in secondary lamination. Ketone-borne silicone defoamers are not suitable for direct food-contact inks unless the final package is validated under EU Regulation 1935/2004 and FDA 21 CFR 175.300 by extraction testing.
Solvent-borne polyurethane adhesives for flexible packaging laminates and heat-activated footwear assembly entrain air during closed mixing and during doctored or roller coating at 1.5–4.0 g/m² dry coat weight. FA-600 is incorporated as-supplied at 0.10–0.30 wt% of total adhesive, added after the polyol and isocyanate components have been combined and after dilution with MEK/ethyl acetate to a working viscosity of 30–70 s by ISO 2431:2019. Production equipment consists of closed stainless steel reactors with low-speed anchor stirrers at 25–60 rpm, followed by transfer through a 25 µm mesh filter to roller, slot-die, or gravure coating heads. The limiting operational fault is not foam persistence but post-application adhesion loss: addition above 0.35 wt% deposits a silicone-enriched layer at the adhesive–substrate interface, and T-peel strength tested according to ISO 11339:2022 can fall below the control value on corona-treated PE film. Compliance references include REACH, EN 13999-1:2013 for adhesives for flexible materials, and FDA 21 CFR 175.105 for indirect food contact if residual MEK and siloxane migration are below applicable limits. Terminal product types include two-component solvent-borne laminating adhesives for snack and medical packaging and heat-activated polyurethane shoe adhesives for leather/rubber bonding. Moisture ingress above 200 ppm in the adhesive generates carbon dioxide from isocyanate reaction; this is a separate bubbling mechanism and is not corrected by defoamer addition.
Automotive solvent-borne basecoats based on polyacrylate/melamine or polyurethane chemistries are applied in mechanical blow or electrostatic spray booths with air cap atomization at 2.5–4.5 bar, electrostatic bell speed up to 30,000–50,000 rpm, and flash-off intervals of 3–5 min before clearcoat application. FA-600 is incorporated at 0.05–0.20 wt% of basecoat only; addition to clearcoat is not recommended because silicone at even 0.03 wt% can alter surface tension and produce craters over the full panel. The downstream production process adds the defoamer during final letdown after metallic or pearlescent effect pigments have been made into a slurry and after the batch is adjusted to 13–18 s (DIN 4 mm cup, ISO 2431:2019), using a variable-speed stirrer at 400–700 rpm; filtration through a 50 µm bag before filling is mandatory. The principal process conflict is not foam removal but effect pigment orientation and clearcoat adhesion: if the defoamer is added before the effect pigment slurry is fully dispersed, silicone can adsorb onto aluminium flake or mica platelets, alter orientation, and produce mottling. If the addition exceeds 0.20 wt%, clearcoat adhesion tested by ASTM D3359-23 method B may drop below 3B. Compliance standards include ISO 12944-5:2019 for corrosion protection of vehicle components, ASTM D714 for blistering after 240 h salt spray, and REACH. Terminal product types include OEM basecoats for thermoplastic bumper systems, refinish basecoats for commercial vehicle cabins, and solvent-borne interior plastic adhesion promoters. Published data for this specific FA-600 configuration is limited; the upper boundary reflects surface-tension depression behaviour of silicone defoamers in melamine-crosslinked acrylic systems and is not transferable to solventborne clearcoat formulations.
Solvent-borne epoxy floor coatings formulated with bisphenol A diglycidyl ether resins and polyamide or cycloaliphatic amine hardeners entrain air during twin-shaft mixing and during squeegee or airless spray application at film thicknesses of 200–500 µm. FA-600 is added only to Part A at 0.10–0.40 wt% of Part A, before extender pigments and silica flattening agents are incorporated. The production process pre-dissolves the epoxy resin in a xylene/MEK blend at 35–45°C, grinds the batch on a bead mill to Hegman 6–7 (ASTM D1210), then lets down with a low-shear paddle at 50–100 rpm. Cold-weather application below 10°C raises viscosity and slows bubble release; a dosage increase to 0.40 wt% is permissible for airless spray at 140–180 bar, but the same dosage can reduce pull-off adhesion on damp substrates tested according to ASTM D4541-17 below 2.0 MPa. Compliance references include EN 13813:2002 for screed materials, ISO 2811-1:2016 for density, and ASTM D4060-19 for Taber abrasion resistance. Terminal product types include solvent-borne epoxy floor sealers, chemical-resistant tank linings, and anti-static industrial floor coatings with graphite or carbon fiber fillers. FA-600 must not be added to the amine hardener because alkaline amine conditions can destabilize the siloxane solution and precipitate silicone-rich droplets visible as surface haze after application.
In solvent-based coil coating lines running at sheet speeds of 80–180 m/min and wet film thicknesses of 12–25 µm, foam entrained during reverse-roll or slot-die application can remain as pinholes and microfoam after peak metal temperature curing at 232–249°C for polyester/melamine or polyvinylidene fluoride coatings. FA-600 is incorporated at 0.05–0.20 wt% of total coating, added after pigment paste milling to Hegman 7 (ASTM D1210) and before final viscosity adjustment to 45–70 s (DIN 4 mm cup, ISO 2431:2019). The production process meters the defoamer into the circulating letdown tank under slow agitation at 20–40 rpm; the coating is then filtered through a 25 µm mesh before the coater. Compliance standards include EN 13523-4:2014 for specular gloss of coil-coated metals, EN 13523-6:2020 for adhesion after indentation, and ASTM D4145-10 for coating flexibility of prepainted sheet. Terminal product types include prepainted architectural cladding, appliance and lighting fixture coil stock, and aluminium roof sheeting. The addition ceiling of 0.25 wt% is set by observed edge retraction and reduced wetting on unprimed galvanized steel during high-speed roll transfer; this is a transfer-line defect, not a paint-stability defect, and requires confirmation by mill trial when changing metal pretreatment.
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Typical properties for a MEK-solution silicone defoamer of this category include a density of 0.80–0.85 g/cm³ at 25 °C per ASTM D1475. The flash point, driven by methyl ethyl ketone, is normally -9 °C to -5 °C by ASTM D56 Tag closed cup. Appearance is clear to slightly hazy; turbidity may develop if moisture levels exceed 0.05 wt% because water disrupts the ketone-silicone compatibility envelope. Active silicone content is lot-specific; products of this type typically contain 5–15 wt% polydimethylsiloxane or alkyl-modified siloxane. Viscosity at 25 °C is generally below 100 mPa·s, which permits pressure-rated metering into high-solids coating batches without preheating.
Storage and transfer conditions are constrained by the low flash point and high vapour pressure of MEK. Bulk storage tanks should be stainless steel or carbon steel, grounded during transfer, and maintained below 30 °C to limit vapour accumulation. Nitrogen blanketing is preferred in humid environments to prevent moisture uptake. Nitrile rubber and EPDM seals are generally unsuitable for continuous service with MEK; fluoroelastomer (FKM) or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) gaskets and O-rings should be specified at drum pumps, metering pumps, and sampling ports. Copper and copper alloys should be avoided in storage and piping because they may accelerate solvent peroxidation under long-term storage.
In high-shear milling operations, FA-600 is normally pre-diluted with MEK at 1:1 to 1:5 by weight before addition to the batch. Recommended addition rates for solventborne coating systems fall between 0.1 and 0.7 wt% based on total formulation weight. The lower boundary is defined by the minimum dosage required to destabilise microfoam in a Cowles disperser operating at tip speeds of 15–25 m/s; below 0.05 wt%, foam persistence in high-solids MEK-borne primers is frequently unchanged. The upper boundary is determined by surface-defect formation. Undiluted top-of-batch addition can create localised silicone-rich zones that appear as craters or fish eyes after drawdown on steel panels prepared according to ASTM D823 practice. On production equipment, dosing is accomplished with a metering pump or pressure-rated shot charger into the vortex of the disperser; addition after pigment dispersion is acceptable only when the letdown tank has sufficient agitator turnover and the defoamer is pre-diluted.
The persistence of microfoam in MEK-borne acrylic primers is particularly sensitive to free surfactant content and pigment surface treatment. Acid-functional dispersants can stabilise small bubbles; FA-600 addition at the mill base stage is preferred because the silicone active can adsorb onto pigment surfaces and survive the subsequent bead mill pass. If added only during letdown, the same dosage may be consumed at the air-liquid interface before it can release entrained air from the bulk paste, producing larger visible craters. Batch-to-batch variation in the defoamer itself is controlled mainly by the MEK-to-silicone ratio; a shift in viscosity may require recalibration of metering pump stroke and should be checked against incoming lot certificates.
Recoatability of two-component polyurethane topcoats is governed by the surface-energy profile of the cured film. Silicone defoamers lower the surface tension of the wet film. If the dosage exceeds the formulation-specific compatibility threshold, a low-energy siloxane layer can remain at the coating surface after solvent flash. Intercoat adhesion is then assessed by cross-cut adhesion per ASTM D3359 or ISO 2409; production-scale failures are typically recorded as delamination between basecoat and clearcoat after sanding, scuffing, or high-humidity exposure. In automotive refinish polyurethane clearcoats, class-typical maximum dosages for MEK-solution silicone defoamers lie between 0.2 and 0.5 wt%. Above 0.5 wt%, gloss loss measured at 60° per ASTM D523 can exceed the specification limits for appearance-critical systems. Published data for the recoatability of FA-600 specifically above 0.5 wt% in two-pack polyurethane is limited; each new substrate and cure schedule requires film defect and adhesion verification under production baking conditions.
The failure mode is not necessarily defoamer incompatibility but migration kinetics. During flash-off and early cure, low molecular weight siloxane fractions migrate to the coating-air interface. When the next coat is applied, this low-energy layer can prevent wetting and intermixing. Faster bake schedules can magnify the defect because the previous coat cannot be re-swelled by the next coat's solvent. Contact angle measurements on cured polyurethane surfaces per ASTM D7334 or ISO 19403 often show an increase in advancing contact angle after defoamer addition above 0.5 wt%, indicating silicone surface accumulation. To control this, the defoamer is added during the pigment grind phase rather than in the final clearcoat, or the dosage is reduced to the minimum that still breaks foam under production pumping conditions. If amine-blocked sulfonic acid catalysts are present, the MEK carrier should not be introduced directly into the catalyst solution; solvent balance and pot life must be validated by viscosity rise measurements per ASTM D1200 or DIN EN ISO 2431.
On coil coating lines running at line speeds above 60 m/min, the combination of counter-rotating pick-up rolls and high-speed pump circulation can generate stable microfoam in MEK-borne polyester and acrylic primers. The defoamer is added to the mill base before pigment dispersion. This allows the silicone active to adsorb onto pigment surfaces and to survive subsequent high-shear passes through a horizontal bead mill or rotor-stator mixer. If addition is delayed until letdown, the same dosage may produce film craters because the silicone is not distributed through the full grind rheology. In gravure ink systems with press-side viscosity of 15–25 s through a DIN EN ISO 2431 4 mm cup, foam carried in the ink return line reduces transfer uniformity and may cause pinholing. FA-600 diluted 1:3 in MEK and metered into the depressed section of the ink pan provides defoaming while minimising viscosity drift; undiluted feed into the ink pump box is associated with localised surface tension gradients and print mottle.
Microfoam in high-solids coil coatings is not only an appearance problem. Entrained air increases the compressibility of the coating in roll-transfer nips, which can reduce film weight and disturb transfer uniformity. On reverse-roll coaters with applicator roll gaps set below 25 µm, air bubbles larger than the gap can produce streak defects. In these systems, the defoamer should be evaluated by pumping the mill base through a gear pump for 30 min and measuring density reduction against a non-foamed reference; density should be measured per ASTM D1475 after degassing. If density reduction exceeds 0.03 g/cm³, additional defoamer may be needed, but only after a defect-free drawdown is confirmed.
In solvent recovery systems where MEK-rich distillate is returned from a distillation column, foam can carry over into the condenser if the reclaim stream contains low levels of surface-active contaminants. FA-600 is not normally added directly to the solvent recovery column, because the silicone may accumulate on packing and reduce separation efficiency. Instead, foam control is applied at the formulation stage; if distillate foaming is observed, the reclaim stream is checked for soluble surfactants and the FA-600 dosage in the parent batch is corrected. Published data for FA-600 in solvent recovery columns is limited.
Mineral oil defoamers are frequently selected for low-cost alkyd and vinyl systems but can introduce semi-volatile oil fractions that affect hardness development and solvent-release profile. FA-600 differs because the MEK carrier is fully volatile under forced drying; the active silicone remains dispersed but does not contribute mineral oil residue. In comparative drawdowns, a defoamer of this class at 0.1–0.3 wt% can provide equivalent foam knockdown to mineral oil at 0.3–0.8 wt%, with lower risk of yellowing in white alkyd enamels. However, substitution requires adjustment of mill-base wetting packages because the silicone can reduce surface tension below the level tolerated by some polyacrylate leveling agents; cratering and crawling are more sensitive to dosage than with mineral oil products. In nitrocellulose lacquers and PVB wash primers, the MEK carrier is compatible with the existing solvent matrix, reducing the need for additional coupling solvents.
Comparative testing for FA-600 against mineral oil defoamers should follow a foam-persistence test under controlled shear in a rotor-stator cell, followed by drawdown on steel or aluminum panels per ASTM D823, and then evaluate gloss per ASTM D523, distinctness of image, and adhesion per ASTM D3359. Because solventborne foam stability is highly formulation-dependent, the substitution ratio cannot be fixed without pilot batch data from the specific letdown vessel and bake schedule. Viscosity drift after 72 h at 25 °C should be verified per ASTM D1200 when changing defoamer chemistry in high-solids resin systems.
| Parameter | FA-600 MEK-silicone | Mineral oil | Polyether-modified siloxane | Polyacrylate dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active chemistry | Polydimethylsiloxane or alkyl-modified siloxane in MEK | Hydrocarbon/mineral oil | Polyether-functional siloxane | High-molecular-weight acrylic polymer |
| Typical addition rate | 0.1–0.7 wt% | 0.2–1.0 wt% | 0.05–0.5 wt% | 0.3–2.0 wt% |
| Surface tension reduction | High | Low to moderate | Moderate | Low |
| Compatibility with MEK-borne systems | High | Moderate | Moderate to high | Low to moderate |
| Recoatability risk | Moderate at higher dosage | Low | Moderate to high | Low |
| Volatile residue contribution | MEK only | Semi-volatile oil | Low | Low to moderate |
