Benefits of a Vacuum Mixer
Vacuum mixers are used to mix ingredients in an environment devoid of atmospheric oxygen. This helps reduce oxidation, improve quality, provide faster processing and reduce the risk of contamination.
This UL/CSA ready Compact Dual-Shaft Planetary Vacuum Mixer is ideal for preparing LiCoO3, LiFePO4, phosphors and ceramic slurry without gas bubble in laboratory. It is also suitable for lithium electricity experiment process for battery anode and cathode paste mixing.
Improved Quality
Vacuum environments accomplish a wide range of goals in mixing applications, from avoiding foaming to thwarting unwanted chemical reactions and microbial growth. In some cases, a void-free mixture is simply a matter of aesthetics, while in others it contributes to the strength and precision of molded composites or pharmaceuticals. Vacuum mixers offer a cost-effective way to achieve these goals in a small footprint.
Mixing under vacuum with a vacuum blender allows you to achieve a much more thorough, dense product with less wasted material. In addition, you can significantly shorten processing time by reducing the number of mixing steps. Whether you are mixing silicone, epoxy, PDMS, or other polymers, liquids, ingredients or dough, the vacuum mixer eliminates air bubbles in the process to deliver superior results.
For example, in the dental industry, a vacuum blender is used to mix dental cements, resins and ceramics before casting. By mixing under vacuum, you can create a denser matrix that is more durable and resistant to cracking or discoloration. The resulting products are often fabricated to form intricate shapes and patterns in popular kitchen and bath designs.
The MSK-SFM-16 UL/CSA ready compact dual-shaft planetary vacuum mixer can mix slurry much more uniformly than single shaft and remove gas bubble efficiently. It has a built-in pump which can evacuate the mixing container to -0.08 Mpa with three segments programmable mixing speed from 0 – 600 rpm. The machine is also a great tool for preparing lithium battery electrode paste and various ceramic materials in a material research lab.
Faster Processes
Mixing under vacuum significantly reduces process times. This is because air bubbles are eliminated in the mixing process, which makes a vacuum mixer more efficient than an atmospheric mixer when used for the same application.
The high shear rotor-stator design of a vacuum mixer draws powdered ingredients directly into the mixing head, so there is no need for a separate powder feed system. This makes vacuum mixing extremely fast and convenient. This is vacuum mixer especially beneficial for applications that require a rapid dispersing of powdered ingredients in liquids, such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and chemical agents.
In the case of immiscible liquids, such as oil and water, the vacuum mixer can help ensure a uniform distribution of the liquid droplets throughout the mixture to form one continuous phase. The vacuum of a vacuum mixer also prevents unwanted foaming, which can lead to unsatisfactory results.
Using a vacuum mixer can also help eliminate unnecessary drying steps and speed up the overall mixing process. This is because a vacuum mixer can effectively degass materials, which eliminates air bubbles that interfere with the consistency of the final product and shortens processing time.
Vacuum mixers can also be used to spatulate and invest phosphate investments, alginates and dental impression materials under vacuum, which allows for smooth, dense castings and impressions that are bubble-free. For this application, a vacuum mixer with a large sized bowl is recommended.
Reduced Risk of Contamination
Vacuum mixers remove air from the mixing tank and product, minimizing contamination. This is a benefit for those manufacturing food or medical products. As the process is conducted in a sealed environment, it reduces the risk of airborne pathogens entering the material and can help prevent oxidation when the product is packaged.
The vacuum mixer also helps improve the product’s texture by eliminating air bubbles. This makes the product more fluid and easier to apply. It can also help increase the shelf life of a product by limiting exposure to oxygen, which can cause oxidation and spoilage.
For pharmaceutical and cosmetic manufacturers, a vacuum mixer can be used to mix emulsions. This can be difficult to do in an atmospheric mixer, but the vacuum removes the bubbles and allows for a clearer product. This is especially helpful for gels, mascaras and foundations.
Vacuum mixing can also be useful for drying processes. It allows for the drying to be done at a lower temperature, which can be beneficial for heat-sensitive materials.
In addition, a vacuum mixer can be used to disperse powdered active ingredients into liquids. This can be a challenging task for many other mixing methods, which can cause foaming, inhomogeneous distribution of the solid and liquid phases, long processing times and encapsulation of powder agglomerates. A vacuum mixer can avoid these problems and help make the process much faster.
Versatility
Vacuum mixing equipment can be used for a variety of applications, and manufacturers offer different models for various uses. Some are designed to mix silicone, epoxy or PDMS compounds and others are capable of mixing anything that can be mixed under normal pressure. The mixing process is accelerated by the vacuum conditions, which saves time and improves results.
Many processes require applying vacuum to enhance quality or efficiency. This can include removing oxygen to prevent decomposition of sensitive ingredients or thwarting mixer manufacturer unwanted chemical reactions. It can also include drying heat-sensitive materials at a lower temperature to avoid thermal degradation.
Other benefits of using a vacuum mixer can include reducing bubble formation, improving dispersion, degassing and enhanced drying. These can be important factors in manufacturing products such as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and coatings.
Vacuum mixers can also be useful in the production of solid surface materials. This type of mixing helps to create void-free casts, which are often necessary for the production of popular kitchen and bath designs.
It’s essential to monitor a mixture as it mixes under vacuum. The use of a sight glass or other monitoring system can help to ensure the vacuum is not being compromised by bubble formation. It’s important to turn off the vacuum once the product has reached a consistent consistency. A break valve can be incorporated into the design of the mixing vessel to make it easy to switch between vacuum and ambient pressure.