Buying a High Shear Mixer

Whether you're looking to buy a high shear mixer for a laboratory or a food processor, there are several options to consider. You can choose from ultrasonic, rotor-stator, or batch high shear mixers.

What are the Benefits of Ultrasonic High Shear Mixers?

Various industries have incorporated ultrasonic high shear mixers to reduce particle size and improve emulsification. Using ultrasonic high shear mixers, particles are broken down into micron- or nano-sized droplets. This process is crucial for the production of high-quality emulsions. These mixers are also used in the pharmaceutical and (phyto-)chemical industries.

The high shear mixer is a mechanical device that applies high shear forces into a liquid. It uses a stator or rotor to agitate a solution. The high shear forces produced by these mixers ensure that the mixture is evenly distributed throughout the batch. They are ideal for producing emulsions and other granular products. They are also used in the formulation of ointments and detergents.

High shear mixers are used in the pharmaceutical industry to produce drugs, nutritional supplements, and therapeutics. They are also used in the food industry to produce granular products and emulsions. These mixers can also be used for inline flow processes.

Ultrasonic high shear mixers use the same mechanical principle as industrial mixing systems. They are available in bench-top and industrial versions. They are also available in different models, which can be custom-made according to the energy input, the sample volume, and the rotor speed.

What are Rotor-stator Mixers?

Currently, there are several types of high-shear mixers available. Some mixers use ultrasonic pressure waves, while others use a rotating rotor. Some mixers combine both technologies for thorough mixing. These technologies allow for higher speed and throughput.

High-shear mixers are used for many different applications, including pharmaceutical inks, disinfectants, tablet coatings, and vaccines. They are also used to disperse fine grain creams.

The rotor-stator mixer uses a rotating impeller to mix powders and liquids. The tip velocity can be between 3.2 and 8.0 meters per second. The rotor/stator assembly can be installed as an inline unit, or as a stationary assembly. It may also be equipped with supplemental agitators to increase bulk flow.

High-shear mixing can also be used for emulsification. This is done by subjecting isolated oleosomes to a high-shear centrifugal force. Ultra-high shear mixers are capable of producing high throughput rates and can replace a colloid mill. They also have lower upfront costs. They are also much easier to clean and maintain. They may be used to prepare nutritional compositions, as well as other dispersions.

What is the Need of Batch High Shear Mixers?

Depending on the application, high shear mixers can do different mixing processes. For example, they can dry powdered particles or disperse granulating fluid. A high shear mixer can also help to stabilize chemicals in food. This process can be used to help reduce operational costs and improve the shelf-life of food products.

High shear mixers work by accelerating liquids tangentially through the rotor/stator assembly. This causes the fluid to flow toward a shear gap. The shear gap is a zone between two fluids that is turbulent. The material accelerated through the shear gap creates intense hydraulic shear.

This process breaks down the droplets of liquids before they can naturally separate. This is important for emulsions, which are two or more liquids mixed together. Emulsions tend to have a higher viscosity than other liquids.

Batch high shear mixers are commonly suspended over a vessel. They can also be permanently mounted on a mixer tank. Depending on the application, a single mixing head or a multi-head configuration can be used.

Special installations include customized accessories such as a heating phase tank without a water phase. A special installation may also include a control panel. A special installation can be designed in a lab or manufactured.

The Bottom Line

High shear mixers are able to process viscous or viscous-viscous mixtures. These are materials that do not blend easily. They require a high shear mixer to break down the mixture before it can separate naturally. This type of mixer is also used to reduce the size of particles.