MIXING | TECHNOLOGY
Mixing matters: making advances in technology
Chris Saunders reports on the latest developments in mixing equipment in the search for optimal homogenisation
As demand increases for higher performance, more sustainable, and more cost-efficient plastics, mixing technologies are being forced to keep pace. Recent developments aim not only to improve blend uniformity, but also reduce energy consumption, integrate recycling, and accommo- date novel materials. A recent study published in the International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology introduced a new mixing technique designed to better distribute wood fibres using single-screw extruders by separating the fibres and the polymer during the melting stage to avoid heat degrada- tion. This reduces thickness swelling and water absorption. The study (Waleed Hassona et al, Faculty of Engineering, Tanta University, Egypt) reported on tests applied on specimens produced using the new mixing technique with different fibre:polymer weight ratios, which found that at a 70:30 mixing ratio, a reduction in water absorption of about 70% and 67% for densities of 1,100 and
www.compoundingworld.com
1,250 kg/m³, respectively, was attained. At K2025, Mixaco, a family-managed company
located in Neuenrade, Germany, introduced the Infinity Mixer which it described as ‘a new standard in mixing innovation.’ By generating target distor- tion and re-circulation patterns in a controlled environment, the company says the Infinity Mixer is able to deliver increased shear efficiency and faster mixing, which reduces overall process time. Other benefits include faster cooling thanks to improved flow dynamics, quicker homogenisation, and superior dispersion quality. The mixer offers two distinct working principles. In the co-rotating mode, both tool packages move in the same clockwise direction. The overlapping flows generate intense particle movement, deliver- ing high-shear rapid mixing and high dispersion. In the intermeshing zone, the combined tip speeds can reach up to 80 m/s, ensuring maximum efficiency and performance. When operated in counter-rotating mode, the tool packages turn in
Main image: Promix’s P1 cooling mixer combines the functions of a highly efficient static mixer with those of a heat exchanger
November 2025 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 43
IMAGE: PROMIX
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50
