The Uses of a Vacuum Mixer
A vacuum mixer is equipment that mixes a material in an environment devoid of air. This prevents incorporation of air bubbles into the mix and enhances product quality.
It is used for a variety of applications and industries. It is particularly useful for manufacturing cosmetic products and pharmaceuticals. It also enables drying processes to proceed more rapidly and at lower temperatures.
Vacuum impregnation
Vacuum impregnation is a process that seals porosity in castings and powder metal parts. This helps prevent fluid and gas leakage during machining. It also increases maintainability, eliminates tool chatter and improves the quality of machined surfaces.
Vacuum impermeability is associated with the presence of pores with different dimensions and shapes. The size of the pore depends on the mechanical properties of the raw material. It is also determined by the vacuum and relaxation time of the tissue. The vacuum-relaxation process causes the deformation of the tissue and the elongation of its microstructure, which reduces the rigidity of the material and allows a higher penetration of the impregnating solution.
Studies of the effect of vacuum-impregnation on the quality of fruit and vegetables have shown that it is possible to reduce the water activity in raw materials using this method. This effect is primarily due to the fact that vacuum impregnation shortens the relaxation period of the tissue, allowing a faster transfer of ions from the osmotic solution to the tissue.
Another use of vacuum impregnation is to introduce different enriching compounds from natural raw materials into the food product. For example, it is possible to introduce organic acids that lower vacuum mixer the pH value of the plant products, thus reducing their thermal resistance and inhibiting out-growth of spores.
Agglomeration
A vacuum mixer is useful for de-agglomerating powders, such as investment materials and duplication materials. It can also be used in the pharmaceutical industry to process ointments, oral syrups and latex. In food processing, it is used to emulsify mayonnaise, salad dressing and margarine.
A SeFluid high shear vacuum-injection mixer is the ideal choice for avoiding agglomeration in these applications, because it does not require a mixing pump. This results in a sanitary design and lower operating costs. The equipment is designed with a low noise level and a compact, modular structure. It is easy to clean and disassemble. The machine is self-priming, meaning that it does not need a feeding pump, saving time and money on maintenance.
When the material is pumped through the vacuum pipe, the high shear force of the vacuum-injection mixer breaks up the agglomerates into fine particles and dissolves them in the liquid. Then, the mixture is fed into a vacuum dispersing zone in the machine, where the air inside of the agglomerates expands. This causes the agglomerates to break up into small, liquid-filled particles that are immediately pushed into the outer centrifugal area of the machine under maximum pressure.
This results in a completely de-agglomerated powder that is immediately wetted by the mixer manufacturer liquid and spreads out evenly over the entire surface. The process is finished with a post-vacuum function to reduce gas inclusions that can form later on the surface of the mixture.
Blending
Mixing with a vacuum mixer reduces the amount of air in the process, which increases the effectiveness of the product and reduces the risk of contamination. Vacuum blending also helps prevent oxidation by removing atmospheric oxygen from the mixture and allowing it to return to ambient pressure before packaging or sealing. It can also help avoid the formation of bubbles.
This technique is used for a variety of different applications, including mixing powders into liquids. This type of mixing is particularly useful for chemical products and foods. In some cases, it can even eliminate the need for a post-mix deaeration process. It can also speed up the mixing process, as the product does not have to sit under a vacuum for long periods of time.
In the pharmaceutical industry, vacuum blending is commonly used to mix emulsions, such as ointments and creams. The process also reduces the amount of heat needed to mix the materials, which helps prevent oxidation and other problems. Vacuum blending can also help manufacturers produce more consistent products, and may result in cost savings.
Another common use for a vacuum mixer is in dental offices, where it can be used to prepare dental cements and amalgam. These cements can tend to fail if they contain air bubbles, but using a vacuum mixer can prevent them from forming and thoroughly homogenize the ingredients. It can also improve the quality of the casts fabricated in the office, as they will be smoother and more bubble-free.
Drying
A vacuum mixer allows the user to dry heat-sensitive materials such as silicone, epoxy, PDMS, and polymers without worrying about thermal degradation. This method also allows drying to proceed at a much faster rate. This makes the vacuum mixer a valuable tool for many industrial processes.
Another important benefit of using a vacuum mixer is that it reduces the risk of oxidation. Oxidation is a common problem in the mixing process, and it can cause chemical reactions that result in the degrading of the material. The vacuum mixer can help to reduce oxidation by removing oxygen from the mixing environment.
This is especially useful when preparing cements and amalgams for medical uses. These types of cements are prone to failure if they contain air bubbles or are not thoroughly mixed. Using a vacuum mixer prevents air bubble formation and promotes more thorough mixing, which shortens processing time and improves quality.
Vacuum mixing can also be used to prepare dental impression materials such as alginates. In addition, it can be used to prepare ointments and gels for the cosmetics industry. It can also be used to mix a variety of construction and manufacturing products such as concrete, mortar, epoxy resins, and paint coatings. Many vacuum mixers are designed to meet strict requirements for food, medical, and scientific use. They can also be sterilized and come with replacement parts to address potential contamination issues.