PDMS silicone, modified dimethylsiloxane ester, silicone-free and compound antifoams — four defoamer chemistries balancing foam control against air release for engine oils, hydraulic fluids, turbine oils and industrial lubricants.
Foam is the enemy of lubrication. Air whipped into oil by gears, pumps and crankshafts forms foam that reduces load-carrying, accelerates oxidation, causes pump cavitation and can overflow reservoirs — and the oil's own detergents make the foam worse.
An antifoam additive (defoamer) breaks this foam at parts-per-million dose. It works by dispersing as fine droplets that enter the foam bubble film, lower its local surface tension, and rupture it. Sinolook supplies both silicone chemistries (PDMS and modified dimethylsiloxane ester — most effective at lowest dose) and silicone-free chemistry (polyacrylate — protects air release for turbine and premium hydraulic oils), plus a compound grade for broad applicability. The right choice depends on balancing foam control against air release — a trade-off we help you get right.
An antifoam droplet must be insoluble enough to stay as an active droplet, yet dispersed finely enough to reach every bubble. When it enters a foam film, its lower surface tension spreads across the film, thins it, and bursts the bubble.
The catch: too much antifoam (especially silicone) over-stabilizes fine internal bubbles and harms air release — see the silicone vs silicone-free trade-off below. Correct dosing (ppm-level) and dispersion are everything.
No antifoam is best at everything. Silicone wins on foam knockdown at the lowest dose; silicone-free wins on air release — critical for turbine and hydraulic systems. Choosing wrong can cause pump cavitation or spongy hydraulics even when surface foam looks fine.
Rule of thumb: if the system has a reservoir where air must escape quickly (turbine, hydraulic), lean silicone-free or carefully dosed compound. If it's a churning sump where surface foam is the main issue (engine, gear), silicone at a few ppm is unbeatable.
From classic PDMS silicone to air-release-friendly silicone-free and balanced compound types — click any product for full TDS and bulk-supply quotation.
Polydimethylsiloxane · 3–20 ppm · Per TDS
The classic silicone defoamer — maximum foam knockdown at just a few ppm. The most cost-effective foam control for engine oils, gear oils and industrial lubricants.
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Modified siloxane · Per TDS
Ester-modified silicone with improved oil solubility and dispersion stability — better suited to high-viscosity oils and formulations where plain PDMS separates.
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Polyacrylate type · 50–300 ppm · Per TDS
Controls foam without harming air release. The preferred choice for turbine oils, premium hydraulic fluids and any system where entrained air must escape quickly.
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Silicone + non-silicone blend · Per TDS
A balanced blend delivering strong foam control with acceptable air release across a wide range of oils — the versatile choice when one defoamer must cover multiple products.
View detailsQuick comparison across all four Sinolook antifoam products. Click any row to open the full TDS.
| Product | Type | Typical Treat Rate | Foam vs Air Release | Best Application | TDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PDMS Silicone ★ | Polydimethylsiloxane | 3–20 ppm | Max foam · weak air release | Engine, gear, industrial | View → |
| Dimethylsiloxane Ester | Modified silicone | 5–30 ppm | Strong foam · better dispersion | High-viscosity oils | View → |
| Silicone-Free | Polyacrylate | 50–300 ppm | Good foam · best air release | Turbine, premium hydraulic | View → |
| Compound ★ | Si + non-Si blend | Per formulation | Balanced foam & air release | Multi-product / versatile | View → |
Treat rates indicative. Antifoam response is non-linear — over-dosing can increase foam and harm air release. Always confirm by ASTM D892 (foam) and D3427 (air release) testing in your actual finished oil.
The right antifoam depends on whether the system prioritizes maximum foam knockdown or fast air release — a churning gear sump and a turbine reservoir need opposite approaches.
Antifoam selection is a balancing act, and the wrong choice causes problems that surface foam testing alone won't reveal. Sinolook carries both chemistries and helps you get the balance right.
PDMS and modified silicone for max foam control, plus polyacrylate silicone-free for air release, plus a compound grade — cover every system from one PO.
Tell us your application and we'll recommend the right chemistry and starting ppm for your ASTM D892 (foam) and D3427 (air release) testing — avoiding the over-dose trap.
Antifoam performance depends on droplet size and dispersion stability — verified per batch so you get repeatable foam control without separation in storage.
Start with a 200L drum for formulation qualification, scale to IBC tote, flexitank or ISO tank for commercial supply across 60+ countries.
Tell us your application (engine, hydraulic, turbine, etc.), foam vs air-release priority and volume — we'll recommend the right chemistry and respond within 24 hours with TDS and a delivered quotation.
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