Uses For a Vacuum Mixer
Vacuum mixers create an environment free of atmospheric oxygen to prevent oxidation and degradation of sensitive ingredients. This extends the life of the product and helps to thwart unwanted chemical reactions and microbial growth.
A vacuum mixer also shortens processing time by eliminating a separate post-mixing deaeration step. This makes the equipment useful for mixing a variety of compounds.
Preparation of cements and amalgams for medical applications
A vacuum mixer is a valuable tool in the preparation of cements and amalgams for medical applications. These materials require a high level of purity and must be prepared under strict conditions to ensure that they do not contain impurities or bacteria. Vacuum environments help to prevent these issues and make it easier to mix a variety of materials with greater efficiency.
Among the many materials that are used in dentistry, calcium silicate cements are particularly popular due to their biokompatibility and ability to set in wet environments. These cements are classified as hydraulic cements and can be further divided into various types depending on the composition of their base and the use of modifiers.
Glass ionomers are a class of hydraulic cements that have been modified to improve their bonding to hard dental tissues. These cements are characterized by their low mechanical resistance and are indicated for the fixation of crowns, bridges and zirconium ceramics. Glass ionomers are also less prone to early water contamination than traditional hydraulic cements.
In order to achieve the highest quality results, it is necessary to properly prepare and store these materials. This requires a high level of purity and vacuum mixer an inert environment. The vacuum created in a vacuum mixer can help to reduce the moisture content of the mixture and thus improve its strength and durability.
Mixing gels and pastes
A vacuum mixer can be used to make gels, pastes and other semisolid preparations. Mixing under vacuum can reduce the risk of air entrapment in the finished product, improve dispersion quality and degassing, and allow drying processes to proceed at lower temperatures. Vacuum mixing can also be used to prevent syringe defects and to facilitate printing on the final products.
For instance, REZI-WELD GEL PASTE is an easy to mix and apply polymer adhesive used in construction for patching, doweling, anchoring and general repairs on vertical and overhead concrete surfaces. When mixed under vacuum, it eliminates unsightly voids in the final bond, provides better handling and can be applied with a trowel without running out. It can be used as a substitute for liquid epoxy adhesives that could run out and limit the bond area.
Many different types of batch mixers can be used for mixing semisolids, but vacuum operation is recommended to achieve the best results. Depending on the product, a single-shaft mixer may be used as well as a counter-rotating agitator with vessel wall scraping or a high-speed rotor/stator homogenizer. A basic mixer manufacturer double planetary mixer can be used to prepare epoxy insulators for electronic applications since it can handle the high viscosity of this formulation. Vacuum mixing can also help to disperse the fusible metal particles in solder pastes.
Drying heat-sensitive materials
Heat-sensitive materials like polymers that change dramatically with temperature need to be dried in an oxygen-deficient environment. This prevents oxidation reactions and can save manufacturers valuable product and energy. Vacuum mixing equipment allows them to dry such materials using a process called agitated vacuum drying. In this method, the mixer’s volume is pumped free of air to create the vacuum conditions and mixing blades circulate and churn the mixture. The resulting low pressure lowers the liquid’s boiling point and allows it to evaporate even at low temperatures. Manufacturers can also recover costly solvents or safely dispose of them.
The vacuum created by the mixer’s blades also limits the formation of bubbles that could otherwise interfere with evaporation and the degassing of the material. It is possible to adjust the vacuum and pressure levels to accommodate the type of material to be mixed. Vacuum mixing equipment can also be used to produce a wide variety of cosmetics including emulsions, creams and toothpaste.
Most vacuum mixers are equipped with double jackets that allow the circulating medium to be either steam, water or thermal oil, depending on the application. They also feature a heated mixing bowl that is usually surrounded by a cooling jacket to protect the mixing tools from the high temperatures produced during the drying process. Various accessories can be added to the mixer for special applications. These include flush discharge plugs and valves, covers to protect the mixing vessel during transport and controls that integrate the mixer with auxiliary equipment.
Sterilization
Using a vacuum mixer, you can sterilize liquids, gels and pastes. A central mixer drum with blade insert is fitted inside the case and pumps out air, allowing for vacuum conditions to be established. This method of sterilization is used to make materials safer for use in medical applications, but it can also be used with any other mixtures that need to be sterile or free from germs.
Spices, tea, cocoa and cereals must be very low in germs to ensure they taste fresh and intense. Even if this type of natural product cannot be made completely sterile, it can still be reduced to an acceptable level by means of a special procedure: the sterile steam injected into the vacuum mixer during mixing works effectively against undesirable microorganisms (especially mold spores).
All surfaces in contact with the spices are heated to prevent unwanted condensation. When the water vapor sublimates, it releases an enormous amount of thermal energy that quickly kills any unwanted microorganisms (especially mold fungi). This so-called “sterilization by steam” does not only work well for pure spices; it also produces good results with spice blends and curry spice compounds.
In order to avoid evaporating too much of the liquid, the agitator is turned off once all air has been pumped out of the mixer. This is a very simple and easy process that can be carried out without having to shut down the mixer and discharge the contents – saving time and money.