Expertise
HOMOGENISATION OF COMPLEX FORMULATIONS
The creation of high performance technical products requires the use of increasingly complex formulations.
The quantity of ingredients in a formula is insignificant. The form, phase, concentration, and homogenization difficulty are crucial. The choice of mixing technology hinges on these factors.
Advanced technologies, especially for ceramics, nanoparticles, or long fiber and additive-containing compounds, are necessary due to specifications, anticipated product performance, and deployment constraints. Product sensitivity to temperature and shear, along with usage complexity (abrasion, corrosion, etc.), pose limitations.
Advanced technologies offer adaptability through design and modular arrangement.
For instance, a particular technology excels in facilitating the incorporation of significant amounts of small, low-density solids (e.g., pyrogenic silica-based premix before polymerization).
Formerly, reusing and recycling production waste, part of a basic environmental policy, was often associated with lower-quality products compared to traditional sectors.
However, the goal has shifted. Robust waste re-use systems now recycle complex waste (metal particles, plastic flakes) for the production of high-end finished products post-homogenization and purification via devolatilization.
Slow mixing: an opportunity for optimisation
Insights from Samir Ben Lakhal, Process Engineer:
The UCP process presents two major advantages in treating viscous formulations.
Firstly, it operates based on torque rather than speed, resulting in significant energy and maintenance savings.
With technical ceramics, electrical consumption savings exceeded 50%, alongside lighter maintenance due to slower part wear. Total savings exceeded €200,000 annually for the industrial operator.
Secondly, the UCP can notably reduce binder percentage or maximize value element proportions, facilitating precise recipe preparation for enhanced results and economic benefits.
One customer leveraged increased active ingredient proportions to replace a complex and expensive production method effectively.
THEMATIC FOLDER : MIXING WHEN FACING NEW INDUSTRIAL PRIORITIES
How can mixing, which is simply defined as the work of viscous products, relate to the industrial priorities of today and the future?
The following pages provide an overview of this viewpoint.