Emerald Specialties Group, a business group of Emerald Performance Materials, has introduced two new products to its FOAM BLAST line of industrial foam control agents. FOAM BLAST 4011, a mineral oil-based product utilizing multiple hydrophobe technologies, is a highly effective, water-dispersible foam control agent for paints and coatings, graphic arts and water treatment systems. FOAM BLAST 4288 is an organically modified silicone emulsion designed for use in aqueous systems such as industrial primers, clear and architectural coatings, inks and overprint varnishes.

FOAM BLAST 4011 was particularly designed as an economical solution with excellent knockdown foam control and a host of benefits for many applications. In paints and coatings, FOAM BLAST 4011 is an excellent choice for formulators with production foam issues, offering quick suppression without surface defects such as film craters or fisheyes. It is also robust enough to offer solid foam control, especially in flat and eggshell formulations. In water treatment systems where there is a high amount of foam, FOAM BLAST® 4011 offers quick knockdown and long-term efficacy.

FOAM BLAST 4011 is also used in inks and graphic arts applications, such as overprint varnishes and water-based flexographic and gravure inks. In addition, it can be used in certain glues and adhesives. It has a broad range of FDA CFR 21 clearances important for some graphic arts applications, and offers a number of environmental benefits, including the fact that it is zero-VOC and free of APE and NPE.

FOAM BLAST 4288 is also utilized in many coatings and graphic arts applications, although it particularly excels in applications where gloss is needed. Testing has confirmed its effectiveness in a variety of coatings systems, including spray and curtain coating applications, as well as in formulations such as acrylic architectural paints. Other applications include aqueous resin systems, overprint varnishes, top coat finishes, industrial primers, clear and pigmented inks, clear industrial coatings and both low- and high-shear applications.