Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating General Defoamer Ethanol vs isopropanol ?

  • Defoamer Ethanol vs isopropanol ?

    Posted by Fekher on October 14, 2018 at 2:14 pm

    if we have access just for ethanol or isopropanol what will be the best choice to give antifoam effect ? 
    And if we will use it for ceteareth 25 at level 30 % what will be the adequat dose of alcohol to inhibit the foam?
    @Perry @MarkBroussard @Gunther @ngarayeva001 @Chemist77

    Fekher replied 6 years, 2 months ago 7 Members · 12 Replies
  • 12 Replies
  • Kingstone

    Member
    October 14, 2018 at 4:13 pm

    could you share more details about your product so we can help

  • Chemist77

    Member
    October 14, 2018 at 5:14 pm

    If it is about that pomade thing, then trust me only the process can help. Nothing else seems to help, manually ethanol/IPA buffing at the surface makes it free from bubbles/aeration. There might be little effect but it is just not worth it. 

  • Fekher

    Member
    October 14, 2018 at 7:06 pm

    @Kingstone it is hair pomade about details just ceteareth 25 in formulation can make bubbles so no need saying other ingredients.
    @Chemist77 yes it is pomade , actually my formulation is good however i want to know as i asked wich is the best defoamer between isopropanol and ethanol and theire level of use as defoamer .

  • Chemist77

    Member
    October 15, 2018 at 12:46 am

    The pour temperature is very high as you know, but still if you want to try then go with ethanol. That is more of a personal care solvent, IPA not so. 

  • ngarayeva001

    Member
    October 15, 2018 at 9:21 am

    Maybe you consider silicones? It’s a hair product, you can’t make it worse by adding silicone in it. As per my experience, nothing decreases foaming better than silicones.

  • Fekher

    Member
    October 15, 2018 at 10:34 am

    @ngarayeva001 i agree that silicone such dimethicone will be better solution , however i have a problem of access so i did not make as a choice .

  • Chemist77

    Member
    October 15, 2018 at 12:22 pm

    With dimethicone you will lose clarity, else it is one of the best. 

  • jeremien

    Member
    October 15, 2018 at 12:25 pm

    ethanol is smaller and should migrate to the interface (air/water) quicker and destabilize it better

  • OldPerry

    Member
    October 15, 2018 at 12:41 pm

    I don’t know as I’ve never done a comparison experiment. 

  • Fekher

    Member
    October 15, 2018 at 3:59 pm

    @Chemist77  thanks for your interesting reply.

    @jeremien that is the answer i need to know , have an idea about level of use?

    @Perry i appriciate  your reply.

  • Gunther

    Member
    October 15, 2018 at 11:36 pm

    Isopropyl alcohol smells more and worse than ethanol does, so this makes the latter a better choice IMO.

    Why not just switch to another pomade recipe that doesn’t foam, and requires no alcohol?

  • Fekher

    Member
    October 16, 2018 at 10:25 am

    @Gunther actually my poade dosen’t need really defoamer cause it has very low foam , just to have an idea about defoamer i asked. Also i’am against using alcohol generally but in low dose “as defoamer level i guess ”  it will be great cause alcohol has antibacterien effect and did not has important drying effect.

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