Foam-control products, defoamers and anti-foam agents remove or manage trapped air, bubbles and foam that can cause manufacturing, process and performance problems in end-products. XL Performance Chemicals has developed more than 100 foam-control products in markets served globally by Clariant, including textiles, metal-working, paints and coatings, mining, oil services, crop protection, construction and paper.

"At some point in virtually every manufacturing process - our own included - foam is created," said Hugh Fowler, North American head of Functional Chemicals, Clariant. "Eliminating this foam or bubbles from such products as paints or cements is essential for these products to perform optimally as designed. With the addition of the XL D-Foam-RTM products to our own extensive range, we can offer our customers an even better comprehensive end-to-end service-oriented solution to their foam-control challenges."

Clariant will manufacture the defoaming products at a Greenville-based plant that operates under a toll agreement. As the business grows, the company may transfer production to its own plants located worldwide.