A
foaming agent is a
surfactantSurfactants are wetting agents that lower the surface tension of a liquid, allowing easier spreading, and lower the interfacial tension between two liquids.- Etymology :The term surfactant is a blend of surface active agent...
, which when present in small amounts, facilitates the formation of a
foamThe most general definition of foam is a substance that is formed by trapping many gas bubbles in a liquid or solid. It can also refer to anything that is analogous to such a phenomenon, such as quantum foam. Often the term is used in reference to polyurethane foam , XPS foam, Polystyrene, or many...
, or enhances its
colloidalA colloid is a type of chemical mixture in which one substance is dispersed evenly throughout another.The particles of the dispersed substance are only suspended in the mixture, unlike in a solution, in which they are completely dissolved...
stability by inhibiting the
coalescenceIn chemistry, coalescence is a process in which two phase domains of essentially identical composition come into contact with one other and form a larger phase domain.-References:*...
of bubbles.
Sodium laureth sulfateSodium laureth sulfate, or sodium lauryl ether sulfate , is a detergent and surfactant found in many personal care products...
, or sodium lauryl ether sulfate (
SLES), is a
detergentA detergent is a material intended to assist cleaning. The term is sometimes used to differentiate between soap and other surfactants used for cleaning...
and
surfactantSurfactants are wetting agents that lower the surface tension of a liquid, allowing easier spreading, and lower the interfacial tension between two liquids.- Etymology :The term surfactant is a blend of surface active agent...
found in many personal care products (
soapSoap is an anionic surfactant used in conjunction with water for washing and cleaning, which historically comes either in solid bars or in the form of a viscous liquid....
s,
shampooShampoo is a hair care product used for the removal of oils, dirt, skin particles, dandruff, environmental pollutants and other contaminant particles that gradually build up in hair...
s,
toothpasteToothpaste is a paste or gel dentifrice used with a toothbrush to clean and maintain the aesthetics and health of teeth. Toothpaste is used to promote oral hygiene: it can aid in the removal of dental plaque and food from the teeth, aid in the elimination and/or masking of halitosis and deliver...
etc.). It is an inexpensive and very effective
foamThe most general definition of foam is a substance that is formed by trapping many gas bubbles in a liquid or solid. It can also refer to anything that is analogous to such a phenomenon, such as quantum foam. Often the term is used in reference to polyurethane foam , XPS foam, Polystyrene, or many...
er. Sodium lauryl sulfate (also known as sodium dodecyl sulfate or
SDS) and
ammonium lauryl sulfateAmmonium lauryl sulfate is the common name for ammonium dodecyl sulfate...
(
ALS) are commonly used alternatives to SLES in consumer products.
A
foaming agent is a
surfactantSurfactants are wetting agents that lower the surface tension of a liquid, allowing easier spreading, and lower the interfacial tension between two liquids.- Etymology :The term surfactant is a blend of surface active agent...
, which when present in small amounts, facilitates the formation of a
foamThe most general definition of foam is a substance that is formed by trapping many gas bubbles in a liquid or solid. It can also refer to anything that is analogous to such a phenomenon, such as quantum foam. Often the term is used in reference to polyurethane foam , XPS foam, Polystyrene, or many...
, or enhances its
colloidalA colloid is a type of chemical mixture in which one substance is dispersed evenly throughout another.The particles of the dispersed substance are only suspended in the mixture, unlike in a solution, in which they are completely dissolved...
stability by inhibiting the
coalescenceIn chemistry, coalescence is a process in which two phase domains of essentially identical composition come into contact with one other and form a larger phase domain.-References:*...
of bubbles.
Sodium laureth sulfateSodium laureth sulfate, or sodium lauryl ether sulfate , is a detergent and surfactant found in many personal care products...
, or sodium lauryl ether sulfate (
SLES), is a
detergentA detergent is a material intended to assist cleaning. The term is sometimes used to differentiate between soap and other surfactants used for cleaning...
and
surfactantSurfactants are wetting agents that lower the surface tension of a liquid, allowing easier spreading, and lower the interfacial tension between two liquids.- Etymology :The term surfactant is a blend of surface active agent...
found in many personal care products (
soapSoap is an anionic surfactant used in conjunction with water for washing and cleaning, which historically comes either in solid bars or in the form of a viscous liquid....
s,
shampooShampoo is a hair care product used for the removal of oils, dirt, skin particles, dandruff, environmental pollutants and other contaminant particles that gradually build up in hair...
s,
toothpasteToothpaste is a paste or gel dentifrice used with a toothbrush to clean and maintain the aesthetics and health of teeth. Toothpaste is used to promote oral hygiene: it can aid in the removal of dental plaque and food from the teeth, aid in the elimination and/or masking of halitosis and deliver...
etc.). It is an inexpensive and very effective
foamThe most general definition of foam is a substance that is formed by trapping many gas bubbles in a liquid or solid. It can also refer to anything that is analogous to such a phenomenon, such as quantum foam. Often the term is used in reference to polyurethane foam , XPS foam, Polystyrene, or many...
er. Sodium lauryl sulfate (also known as sodium dodecyl sulfate or
SDS) and
ammonium lauryl sulfateAmmonium lauryl sulfate is the common name for ammonium dodecyl sulfate...
(
ALS) are commonly used alternatives to SLES in consumer products. While SLS is a known irritant, some evidence and research suggest that SLES can also cause irritation after extended exposure.
Also, a
foaming agent is a material that will
decomposeChemical decomposition or analysis is the separation of a chemical compound into elements or smaller compounds. It is sometimes defined as the opposite of a chemical synthesis. Chemical decomposition is often an undesired chemical reaction...
to release a
gasThis page is about the physical properties of gas as a state of matter. For the uses of gases, and other meanings, see Gas .A gas is one of four states of matter. Near absolute zero, a substance exists as a solid...
under certain conditions (typically high temperature), which can be used to turn a
liquidLiquid is one of the principal states of matter. A liquid is a fluid that has the particles loose and can freely form a distinct surface at the boundaries of its bulk material. The surface is a free surface where the liquid is not constrained by a container....
into a
foamThe most general definition of foam is a substance that is formed by trapping many gas bubbles in a liquid or solid. It can also refer to anything that is analogous to such a phenomenon, such as quantum foam. Often the term is used in reference to polyurethane foam , XPS foam, Polystyrene, or many...
. For example, powdered titanium hydride is used as a foaming agent in the production of
metal foamA metal foam is a cellular structure consisting of a solid metal - frequently aluminium - containing a large volume fraction of gas-filled pores. The pores can be sealed , or they can form an interconnected network . The defining characteristic of metal foams is a very high porosity: typically...
s, as it decomposes to form
titaniumTitanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. Sometimes called the “space age metal”, it has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver color.Titanium can be alloyed with iron, aluminium, vanadium, molybdenum, among other...
and
hydrogenHydrogen is the chemical element with atomic number 1. It is represented by the symbol H. At standard temperature and pressure, hydrogen is a colorless, odorless, nonmetallic, tasteless, highly flammable diatomic gas with the molecular formula H
2...
gas at elevated temperatures.
Zirconium(II) hydrideZirconium hydride is a chemical compound, a hydride of zirconium. The commercial form is usually a flammable, gray-black powder....
is used for the same purpose.