Antifoaming Agents Market is Segmented By Type (Water-Based Antifoaming Agent, Oil-Based Antifoaming Agent, Silicone–Based Antifoaming Agent, Non-Silicone Based Antifoaming Agent, Alkyl Based, Polymer, Other), By Function (Emulsifier, Thickener, Stabilizer, Texturizer, Others), By Application (Pulp and Paper, Metal production, Cement, Chemical, Paper & pulp, Textile, Food & Beverage, Glass, Others), and By Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa) – Share, Size, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2024-2031
Market Overview
Antifoaming Agents Market is estimated to reach at a CAGR of 4.4% within the forecast period (2024-2031).
Antifoaming agents, also known as defoamers, are additives used to limit or control foam production and eliminate foam buildup in a system. Antifoaming agents work by attaching to the surface of foam bubbles, weakening and destabilizing it and eventually causing the bubble to collapse.
Water-based, oil-based and silicone-based defoamers are some of the main types of antifoaming agents apart from powder-based, EO/PO-based, non-silicone defoamers, alkyl polyacrylates,ester-based and others. Dyes & pigments, polymer & emulsions, pesticide formulations, starch & corrugation, agriculture, and others use these in pulp & paper, oil & gas, paints & coatings, water treatment, food & beverages, detergents, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and more.
Market Scope
| Metrics | Details |
| Market CAGR | 4.4% |
| Segments Covered | By Type, By Function, By Application, and By Region |
| Report Insights Covered | Competitive Landscape Analysis, Company Profile Analysis, Market Size, Share, Growth, Demand, Recent Developments, Mergers and acquisitions, New Product Launches, Growth Strategies, Revenue Analysis, and Other key insights. |
| Fastest Growing Region | Asia Pacific |
| Largest Market Share | North America |
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Market Dynamics
Expanding the industrial application of antifoaming agents in emerging countries has escalated the market share for the product. Improving demand for antifoaming in bioprocess applications has recently increased the market demand for the product.
Expanding the industrial application of antifoaming agents in emerging countries has escalated the market share for the product.
Antifoaming agents can be used for various purposes, escalating the market share in the forecast period. The explosive growth of the packaged food sector, pharmaceuticals, and textile industries will propel antifoam markets worldwide. New players are entering the antifoaming agents' industry to meet this rising demand. For company expansion, the companies focus on investing in new and improved antifoaming agent production facilities.
The worldwide antifoaming agent market is primarily driven by rapidly growing application industries and rising demand from emerging markets. Antifoaming agents have gained popularity due to their ability to minimize and prevent foam production in industrial process liquids by binding to the air-liquid surface and destabilizing the foam lamellas, resulting in air bubbles rupture and the disintegration of surface foam.
Furthermore, antifoaming agents are also used in the food and beverage industry. In the treatment and processing of food, foam formation is not always desirable. It can limit the efficiency of production operations or even cause major damage to some production equipment. As a result, antifoaming agents that disrupt the production of air bubbles are frequently required. Rising demand for antifoaming agents from food processing units has escalated the market share for the product in value and volume terms.
For instance, in March 2017, Evonik introduced a specialty additive for safe food packaging with enhanced performance and included Airbase 5655, Airbase 5355, and Airbase 4655 as defoamers and a new wetting agent and Surfynol 355 as a surfactant.
Improving demand for antifoaming in bioprocess applications has recently increased the market demand for the product.
A defoamer, also known as an antifoaming agent, is a chemical additive that prevents foam formation in industrial process liquids. Antifoaming agent and defoamer are interchangeable names. Anti-foamers limit the creation of new foam, whereas defoamers remove the existing foam. Foams are defined as creating bubble-like structures at the surface of a liquid that accumulates quicker than it degrades. Foaming is undesirable as it reduces the productive volume, increases cost and threatens a fermenter's sterility. Fermentation booster, on the other hand, aids in the removal of lactobacillus contamination and biocides antibiotics. Prions, for example, produce molasses fermentation enzymes in distilleries. Antifoam agents and yeast are reduced, revitalizing the system and decreasing scaling. Another fermentation enzyme for molasses storage tanks that they produce extends the shelf life of molasses while lowering volatile acid concentration. It takes the lead when it partially hydrolyzes non-reducing sugar into fermentable sugar.
Antifoaming agents are added to prevent or reduce the foam generation in the formulation and are completely insoluble in the foaming media and exhibit surface-active. These are less dense, spread very easily over a foamy surface, and prefer the air-liquid interface, where they destabilize the foam lamellas, thus causing the bubbles to rupture and the surface foam to break down. The entrained air bubbles clump together and the larger bubbles ascend to the top of the bulk liquid faster.
Certain alcohols, stearates, insoluble oils (castor oil), polydimethylsiloxanes, other silicone derivatives, ether, and glycols are all often used, as anti-foaming agents. Enzymes are biological catalysts (also known as biocatalysts) that help live organisms speed up biochemical reactions. They can be isolated from cells and employed to catalyze various commercially relevant activities. Thus, their importance cannot be overstated in the subject of bioprocesses.
Limited awareness regarding antifoaming agents is hurdling the growth of the product.
The importance and wide application range are the primary driving for antifoaming agents in developing economies. Many companies are investing in the industry to boost the revenue share for the product.
However, limited product awareness is still there, which has acted as a major challenge to the product's market growth. In addition to limited product awareness, stringent regulations are another factor that has shown various challenges to the product's market growth. The increasing product regulation has reduced the opportunities for start-ups to grow in the antifoaming industry.
COVID-19 Impact on Market
Antifoaming agents have seen a negative impact due to COVID-19 as the product vendors face several challenges in the wake of the pandemic. Furthermore, the sale of antifoaming agents directly depends on the demand for inks, paint, coatings, & adhesives. On the contrary, the need for paint & coatings depends on construction activity, which was highly hampered by the pandemic, negatively impacting the antifoaming agent market.
Furthermore, Due to supply chain disruption and reduction, industrial application demand for the product has shown various challenges to the product's market growth during COVID-19.
However, the condition is getting better in various parts of the globe due to the increasing vaccination percentage in various developing regions and the reopening of production units of end-user industries. Although the arrival of the omicron virus has created alarming challenges for the future market of the product, thus expected to limit the growth of the product in the forecast period.
Market Segment Analysis
The global antifoaming agents market is segmented based on type, function, application, and region.
Silicone-based antifoam agents offer various advantages such as cost-effectiveness, environment-friendly nature, and efficient options for preventing and controlling foam.
The global antifoaming agents market based on the solution is segmented into water-based antifoaming agents, silicone-based antifoaming agents, non-silicone-based antifoaming agents, alkyl-based polymers, and others. Out of the mentioned segments, the silicone-based antifoaming agent is expected to show significant market growth in the forecast period, growing at a CAGR of XX%. Silicone-based foam control additives are often the most cost-effective and efficient options for preventing and controlling foam.
Silicones spread uniformly and quickly over a foam sheet due to their low surface tension, allowing for foam penetration and collapse. They cannot damage the environment because they are inert and work at far lower doses than non-silicone defoamers.
Furthermore, silicone-based products dominate the market due to their superior qualities such as low surface tension, chemical inertness, thermal stability, and total water insolubility. During the projection period, the silicone-based sector is expected to be the second-fastest-growing type of defoamer.
For instance, Foamkill offers unique silicone antifoam compounds, 100% active compounds that provide superior foam control and prevention in non-aqueous and aqueous systems. All Foamkill compounds are resistant to product separation and are low to medium-viscosity fluids that are easy to handle. They are chemically inert and oxidation resistant. Foamkill chemicals are non-volatile and have flash points exceeding 600oF, making them effective even at high temperatures.
For instance, In March 2016, Evonik planned to build a production plant in Shanghai, China, to fulfill the increased demand for specialty silicone products in Asia, slated to be finished by mid-2017. Car seats, furniture, and ergonomic beds are all made with specialty silicones.
Market Geographical Share
Asia-Pacific has shown incremental growth in the antifoaming agents market due to increasing demand for the product in various end-user industries and the presence of key players in the region
Due to the increased consumption of food and beverage goods in the region, Asia-Pacific has seen the fastest growth in the global industry. China and India will be the primary drivers of the rising demand for antifoaming agents since businesses such as beverage manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and others are expected to grow rapidly. The regional market for an antifoaming agent is also fueled by regional players' expansion and regular product launches.
Furthermore, North America is expected to hold a dominant share of the global antifoaming agents market due to the growth of end-use industries, high demands for antifoaming agents in the food & beverage industry, and advancements in product technologies. Due to fast industrialization and high demand from end-users such as pulp & paper and paints & coatings, Asia-market Pacific's share is predicted to increase throughout the forecast period.
Companies and Competitive Landscape
The antifoaming agents market is highly competitive with the presence of local and global companies. Some prime companies contributing to the market's growth include Air Products and Chemicals Inc, Ecolab, Elementis Plc, Dow Corning Corporation, Evonik Industries, BASF, Kemira, COVENTYA International, Ashland, Elements Plc, Shin-Etsu Chemical Company Ltd. and among others.
The major companies are adopting several growth strategies such as acquisitions, product launches, and collaborations, contributing to the global growth of the antifoaming agents market.
- For instance, on JUNE 12, 2020, Control launched a range of antifoaming agents and surface features. The chemical solutions company has introduced a new line of antifoaming agents based on vegetable oil. These new products enable us to tackle the significant difficulty of antifoaming agents: to be effective throughout the manufacturing process while also ensuring the coating's efficiency over time.
BASF SE
Overview: BASF SE develops chemistry for a long-term future. The BASF SE, approximately 122,000 people, works to help clients succeed in nearly every sector and country. Chemicals, materials, industrial solutions, surface technologies, nutrition & care, and agricultural solutions are the six segments that make up the company’s offering. In 2018, BASF made roughly € 63 billion in sales.
Product Portfolio
- Flowmaster WO 2360: Foamaster WO 2360 adheres to China's food contact regulation GB 9685-2016 for adhesives, as well as important food contacts regulations such as CFR Title 21, Food Contact Materials Regulation (EC), Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung (BfR) and Swiss Ordinance on Food Contact Materials for packaging.
- The new white oil-based defoamer has outstanding and consistent defoaming efficacy, good acrylic PSA system compatibility, and strong oil-slick resistance during adhesive formulation storage. When used in paper coatings, Foamaster WO 2360 has high defoaming efficiency, good antifoaming properties, and quick foam break time.
Key Development
- For instance, on October 10, 2019, BASF SE launched a new defoamer, Foamaster WO 2360, complying with major food contact regulations for paper coating, adhesives applications, and functional packaging.
