Defoamers are chemical additives that prevent the production of foam in industrial settings. Defoamers prevent macro-foam formation and significant air occlusions in waterborne formulations. Foams typically form when gas is dispersed in liquids during various industrial processes. Most of the time, defoamers have surface-active properties and are insoluble in the foaming medium. Consequently, they are extensively used in various industries, including paper and pulp, paints and coatings, and automotive. To spread quickly along the surface interface and achieve the highest froth cooperation, defoamers should also have low surface forces per unit area.
The market for defoamers is expected to be driven by an increase in the use of paper-based products in the packaging sector over the forecast period. Additionally, there would be significant opportunities for market expansion due to the demand from subsectors like specialty paper, packaging paper, and industrial paper. It is anticipated that stringent regulations by governing bodies, particularly in developed countries, will challenge the market for defoamers. Manufacturers' constant effort to conform to increasingly stringent regulatory standards contributes significantly to the high costs associated with production and quality control.
Asia-Pacific is the largest shareholder in the global defoamers market. Strong economic growth in the region has led to positive trends in key end-user industries, which reflect the market's steady growth. In addition to China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Australia are the leading contributors to the market's expansion in the Asia-Pacific region.