MIXING EQUIPMENT
cup. Because mixing takes place in removeable containers, the cleaning process is straightforward, saving time, avoiding cross contamination, and making it easier for the technology to be repurposed for other applications.
Adopting a planetary centrifugal mixer can remove steps from a process compared with manual contact mixing processes, saving time and reducing labour costs. Material can be simultaneously mixed, dispersed, and degassed with minimal operator intervention, freeing up team members for more valuable work elsewhere. The technology can reduce process waste by reducing the risk of contamination, while the removed need for decanting reduces waste left in containers. The ability to repeat the process can reduce variation due to operator skill and improve product formulation.
Planetary centrifugal mixing is effective at controlling shear, and is usually quite benign to the products. Additionally, unlike machines that rely on the insertion of paddles or impellers into the material, no air is introduced; in fact, there is a tendency to remove it.
PROCESS TRACEABILITY
Planetary centrifugal mixers enable precise and repeatable control of the mixing process; process variables are programmable. Some models offer data logging and PC connectivity, giving operators information on RPM, mode, and which recipe is being used. Mixers with communication functions can provide remote control and traceability functions — the user can start/stop operation and report abnormal stop information.
Manufacturers can collect data from their mixer to see the exact RPM in near real-time and validate that the correct program was used for a particular batch — useful for quality assurance and as a
UKManufacturing Summer 2025
development tool. This level of visibility is useful to inform any technical documentation ahead of regulatory submission.
SELECTING A MIXER There are various planetary centrifugal mixers available, some that purely mix, some that mix and degas, and some that degas to a high level under vacuum. Machine selection is normally based on two considerations, batch size and the required level of
air removal. While many manufacturers opt for a larger mixer for higher volume applications, others operate multiple smaller machines to avoid a large upfront investment, prevent a single point of failure, and increase flexibility.
Some manufacturers may need to guarantee that all air is removed from a particular mixture. In this case, manufacturers can select a machine that mixes under vacuum, which can remove invisible micro bubbles.
PLANETARY CENTRIFUGAL MIXING MEDICAL DEVICE DEVELOPMENT One example of the use of planetary centrifugal mixing comes from the Department of Automatic Control and Systems Engineering (ACSE) team at the University of Sheffield, which is developing a diagnostic glove that includes several flexible bioelectronic sensors. The sensors are formed from elastomers mixed with various conductive nano or micro particle compounds, like graphite, platinum, and silver, which are 3D printed onto the glove’s material. The process involved mixing nanoparticles
into very viscous filled polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) mixture to produce a graphite composite. After trialling a THINKY Mixer, ASCE has removed the need for solvents as a mixing aid, removed a step from the process, improved health and safety, and increased repeatability. Another interesting example comes from the University of Bern, Switzerland, where a team of researchers developing a microfluidic platform for the formation and maintenance of blood micro-vessels benefitted from planetary centrifugal mixing. One of the key production issues was the complete filling of all the microstructures with uncured PDMS. The team wanted to reliably prevent air bubbles becoming trapped in the PDMS. A THINKY Mixer was used successfully to simultaneously mix and degas the material. A good supplier can address your challenge by doing laboratory evaluations and demonstrations with your materials. Based on previous experience, it can advise on the best mixer for your process.
Intertronics
www.intertronics.co.uk
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