MANUFACTURING


Streamlining battery slurry mixing


Growing demand for lithium-ion batteries has inspired businesses to develop electrode slurry materials and optimise existing formulations.


E


lectrode slurry consists of electrode particles, small carbon particles to help conduction and binder material (polymer and solvent) to hold the structure together. With these particles often representing between 20-40 percent of the total by weight, getting a consistent, even mix and dispersion is highly important for battery  technical: learning and development at adhesives supplier Intertronics, explains how planetary centrifugal mixing can assist the design and development of advanced batteries.


 traditional mixing with blades, impellers, paddles, spatulas, etc, for a number of reasons. Contact mixing typically results in 


process, poor dispersion or a high defect rate. Due to the high viscosity and heavy   result in RSI for operators after long periods of mixing. Finally, contact mixing has a tendency to introduce too much air to the mixture.


Planetary centrifugal mixers One alternative to contact mixing is using a planetary centrifugal mixer. This is a non- contact mixing method that combines revolution and rotation within a set radius to achieve a fast, homogenous mix. Rotation is typically at ~1,000s of RPM, generating mixing forces of about 400 G. Users mix in their own containers with sizes ranging from 12 ml to 20 litre, to mix, disperse and degas materials


26 DECEMBER/JANUARY 2025 | ELECTRONICS FOR ENGINEERS in seconds to minutes.


Planetary centrifugal mixers can be programmed with different ratios of revolution and rotation “recipes”, for example to add more rotation for the defoaming function or more mixing for a more centrifugal action. Altering the speed  materials, some of which may require a 10 or even 20 step program.


 With a planetary centrifugal device, mixing takes place in removeable containers, meaning the cleaning process is straightforward. This saves time, avoids cross contamination and makes it easier for the technology to be repurposed for other applications.


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