The process of taking raw materials and combining them to formulate a finished end product takes time, special equipment and expertise. Mixing and blending wet materials together takes more than just adding materials to a tank and stirring it around. A few centuries in technology and science has changed things drastically.

Now milling wet materials involves getting particles in those materials down to a nanometer size. This is made possible these days with the use of dispersers, mixers, grinders and mills. There is a variety of wet milling equipment on the market that can process high viscosity materials and highly abrasive materials. Your application will determine what type of equipment you choose to incorporate into your production.

A lot of formulations that are mixed and milled can be sensitive to temperature. Dispersion mixers can be fitted with parts that can affect the temperature and the materials that they parts are made of can also be a factor. The way the parts are designed can increase the temperature or help to keep the product cool.

For example there are very simple dispersion mixers that are designed with a high visc blade on a single shaft that can be dropped down into a tank of materials. Single solid flat blades that have teeth around the edges are meant for materials that can with stand the higher temperatures created from the energy. For the more temperature sensitive products, there are blades designed with holes and spaces that allow air to get into the product to keep the temperature down.

There are also rotor stators on the market that reduce particles and disperse them in the liquid. The rotor is very closely set in the stator that has small slots all around it. The rotor spins the materials that are fed through the small spaces and particles are sheared down as they are fed through the very fine gaps. This configuration is usually used as a pre mixer in the processing system.

A disperser can break down the particles and distribute them evenly but depending on the materials that you are working with the particles may have the tendency to re-agglomerate. Many formulation specialists will introduce a dispersant or surfactant to the formula to keep the particles separated and suspended in the liquid.

How it works is that the dispersant will coat the particles and bond with them. The outer layer is now able to combine with the liquid. This layer that is now forming between the solid particle and liquid will keep the particles separated from one another. It is important to remember and be aware that many things will all be determined based on the product you are trying to make.

Custom Milling & Consulting LLC, manufactures dispersion mixers like an in-line rotor stator, and lab mixers. They also manufacture media mills that take particles size reduction and dispersion to the next level. Many times in the process the mixers are used to pre-mix materials before it is processed through the mill.

CMC has more to offer from toll milling services, consulting, and manufacturing. Contact us to speak to a representative about how CMC can set you up with milling equipment and much more at sales@cmcmilling.com.