Charlotte, North Carolina – Mixing equipment supplier StateMix used the UTECH North America conference and exhibition to promote its centrifugal mixer which, the firm said, blends a wide range of viscosities around 25 times faster than shaft-type mixers.
The machine, which also blends, disperses and de-gases materials, is capable of mixing of many dissimilar components, according to the company.
Chris Summers, sales and marketing coordinator, said: “The dual-axis centrifugal mixer produces the axial flow patterns that are predominant in liquid mixing while overcoming the viscosity limitations of a traditional single-shaft mixer.
“Added benefits include reduced clean-up requirements, as all shafts are eliminated and the container remains the only contact part. Without shafts, it’s possible to produce very small batches; standard units are capable of mixing batches as small as 50g and as large as 2.5kg,” he said.
He added that batch limits can be extended with container adapters. “In addition, the shallow vortex eliminates additional air entrainment during mixing. As vortex depth is not a limiting factor, the dual-axis centrifugal mixer can mix at high energy levels, which results in shorter batch times.
“In the adhesive and sealants industry, the mixer has been used for fast and efficient formulation qualification, pilot development, and small batch production,” said Summers.
Using this process, pre-polymer resins, curatives, powdered additives, polyurethanes, silicones, epoxy systems, and other materials can be effectively mixed in a fraction of the time required by conventional mixing methods and without the usual air entrapment, the firm claims.
Crain Communications Ltd – publisher of Urethanes Technology International and UTECH-polyurethane.com – organises UTECH North America 2014.
