OIL-IN-WATER EMULSIONS

The invention relates to oil-in-water emulsions based on fatty alcohols and the use thereof as antifoams or deaerators for aqueous compositions. Such oil-in-water emulsions consist to at least 95% by weight of the following constituents: a) 50 to 80% by weight, in particular 55 to 75% by weight and specifically 60 to 70% by weight, based on the total weight of the oil phase, of at least one alkanol having at least 16 carbon atoms, in particular having 16 to 20 carbon atoms, where the fraction of alcohols having 16 to 18 carbon atoms constitutes at least 80% by weight, in particular 90% by weight, specifically 95% by weight or at least 99%, based on the total amount of component A, b) 1 to 10% by weight, in particular to 2 to 8% by weight, specifically 3 to 6% by weight, based on the total weight of the oil phase, of at least one further component B, which is selected from esters of C12-C36-alkanecarboxylic acids with polyglycerol and esters of C12-C36-alkanecarboxylic acids with C12-C36-alkanols, and mixtures thereof, c) 10 to 49% by weight, in particular 20 to 40% by weight, specifically 25 to 35% by weight, based on the total weight of the oil phase, of at least one further component C, which is selected from organic substances which are liquid at 50° C. and 1013 mbar, at atmospheric pressure have a boiling point above 200° C., and at 25° C. and 1013 mbar have a solubility in water of less than 0.1 g/l.