If problems occur during the use of low-foam penetrant SF, it can be resolved through three steps: investigating common causes, checking technical parameters, and contacting the professional team of Guoli Chemical.
Detailed explanation
Low-foam penetrant SF is a stable nonionic surfactant of fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether phosphate (with anionic characteristics). If problems such as insufficient penetration, abnormal foam, or poor compatibility occur during use, they are usually related to product storage conditions, water quality, working fluid formulation compatibility, or usage concentration. According to the Guoli Chemical product database, this product withstands 300g/L NaOH strong alkaline solution, is resistant to hard water, has a cloud point ≥100°C, and is very stable under normal conditions. Therefore, it is recommended to start troubleshooting from operating conditions one by one.
If the above self-check cannot solve the problem, you can directly contact the technical department of Haian Guoli Chemical Co., Ltd. for professional support. Although there is no independent technical support hotline page for this product publicly available in the database, you can obtain the latest technical services through the purchase channel (such as contact information marked on the product packaging or official sales personnel). Generally, Guoli Chemical provides formula guidance, application process optimization, and product quality consistency traceability services for its products.
Common problem self-check list
The following are typical problems and troubleshooting directions when using low-foam penetrant SF:
1. Insufficient penetration (slow or uneven wetting)
- Insufficient concentration: The penetration time of a 1% aqueous solution of this product at 25°C by the canvas sinking method is ≤10 seconds. If the treatment effect is poor, it is recommended to re-measure whether the actual addition amount reaches the recommended dosage (generally 0.1%~1.0%).
- Low temperature: At low temperatures, the activity of surfactant molecules decreases. The working fluid can be appropriately heated (the product's cloud point ≥100°C, can be used from room temperature to high temperature).
- Hard water interference: Although the product is resistant to hard water, extremely high hardness water (e.g., Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ > 500ppm) may affect some performance. You can test with soft water for comparison.
- Product failure: Check whether the product has been exposed to moisture or contaminated by foreign substances due to long-term open storage. The product is slightly hygroscopic and should be sealed and stored in a cool and dry place at 5°C~35°C.
2. Abnormal increase in foam
- Compatibility issues: Low-foam penetrant SF itself has low and unstable foam, but if other high-foam surfactants (such as AES, K12) are compounded in the formula, the foam may come from other components.
- Mechanical air entrainment: Air leakage from high-speed circulation pumps or excessively violent stirring can introduce air and cause foaming. Check the equipment sealing.
- Change in alkali concentration: Although resistant to strong alkalis, foam performance may vary slightly in different concentrations of alkali baths, and judgment should be made based on the actual process.
3. Poor compatibility (layering, precipitation, turbidity)
- Compatibility with other auxiliaries: It has good compatibility with anionic and nonionic auxiliaries, but if the system contains high concentrations of cationic auxiliaries (such as cationic softeners, fixing agents), electrostatic complexation may occur, leading to precipitation.
- Addition sequence: It is recommended to slowly add SF to water under stirring to dilute, then add other auxiliaries. Avoid directly pouring high-concentration acid or alkali into the SF raw liquid.
Technical parameters
Check whether there are changes in key product parameters related to the problem:
| Parameter item | Typical value | Description |
|---|
| Appearance | Colorless to light yellow transparent liquid | If the color is significantly darker or turbid, it may have deteriorated |
| Active content | ≥99% | A decrease in solid content directly affects performance |
| pH value (1% aqueous solution) | 5.0~7.0 | Deviation from this range may indicate acid or alkali contamination |
| Penetration power (1%, 25°C) | ≤10 seconds | Canvas sinking method; prolonged time indicates decreased product performance |
| Alkali resistance stability | Resistant to 300g/L NaOH | If the required process alkali concentration is not tolerated, check whether the process conditions exceed the product design range |
| Cloud point (1% aqueous solution) | ≥100°C | A decrease in cloud point may reflect a change in product composition |
| Kinematic viscosity (25°C) | 200~400 mm²/s | Abnormal thickening or thinning indicates storage or quality issues |
| Moisture content | ≤1.0% | Excessive moisture may be due to packaging damage and moisture absorption |
(Source of above parameters: Guoli Chemical product database)
Application recommendations
For different application fields, the following verifications are recommended:
- Textile desizing/scouring: The recommended dosage of SF in the working fluid is 0.2%~0.5% (based on fabric weight), used with alkali agents and hydrogen peroxide. Add water first, then add SF and stir to dissolve evenly.
- High-pressure spray cleaning: Due to the dynamic circulation of the system being prone to foaming, the low-foam property of SF is significant in this scenario. Recommended addition amount is 0.1%~0.3%. When compounding with chelating agents, corrosion inhibitors, etc., first perform a small-scale compatibility test.
- Paper deinking: The deinking temperature is usually 60~80°C, which is within the cloud point range of SF. Recommended dosage is 0.05%~0.2% (based on pulp weight), used with sodium hydroxide, water glass, etc. for flotation deinking.
- Pesticide adjuvant: As a tank-mix adjuvant, the dosage is generally 0.05%~0.1% of the spray solution. Excessive dosage may cause excessive spreading and runoff. Conduct small-scale field tests to determine the optimal addition ratio.
If the problem still cannot be solved after self-check and testing, contact Guoli Chemical to provide batch traceability information (drum batch number and production date), along with a problem description and working fluid conditions (pH, temperature, water quality, formula composition) to allow technical personnel to quickly locate the issue.
Notes
- Although this product is not classified as a hazardous chemical, protective gloves and goggles should still be worn during operation to avoid prolonged skin contact.
- Waste working fluid and empty drums should be disposed of in accordance with local environmental regulations; do not discharge directly into water bodies.
- Different batches of product may have slight fluctuations in indicators within the allowable range, but all key parameters should meet the factory standard of the enterprise.
- For exact technical support phone number or email, it is recommended to refer to the product inspection report (COA) accompanying the shipment or contact the sales department of Guoli Chemical.
