TECHNICAL GLOSSARY & TERMS FOR MIXING
Power Tools
AGITATOR
A mixer consisting of a power drive, shaft and impellor to provide agitation of the contents of a vessel, container or tub
ANCHOR PADDLE
A paddle with vertical blades whose contour conforms to the vessel
AXIAL FLOW
The circulation of a fluid from top to the bottom or bottom to top of the mixing vessel
AXIAL TURBINE
A turbine impellor with pitched blades, usually 45° whose mix action is a combination of axial and radial flows
BATCH MIXER
Batch mixing is the simplest mode of operation. The industrial mixer is filled with media and product mixing is allowed to proceed. When mixing is complete, the vessel’s contents are emptied for downstream processing. The mixer is then cleaned and refilled for mixing another batch
BLENDING
Mixing two or more miscible liquid components into a more uniform mass
BULK DENSITY
The density of particulate, granular or powdered solid materials that includes the voids between the particles. It is the mass of many particles of the material divided by the volume they occupy. The volume includes the space between particles
CENTIPOISE
The centipoise is the unit of dynamic viscosity in the centimetre gram second system of units. Centipoise is abbreviated to cP or cps. Water has a viscosity 1 centipoise at 20 °C
CONTINUOUS MIXER
With continuous feed industrial mixers, the media to mix is added continuously as mixed fluid is removed. Continuous mixers are suitable for production applications because they can run for long periods of time without being shut down
DENSITY
Density is the relationship between a material weight (kg)and its volume (ltr). It's usually measured in kilogrammes per cubic metre (kg/m3). A cubic metre of water weighs 1000 kilogrammes, so it's density is 1000 kilogrammes per cubic metre The density of water is 1.0" . Oil is lighter than that at a density of 0.8 and floats on top of water
DISPERSION
A process where solids are broken down through intensive high speed agitation to disperse particles into a homogeneous liquid
DISSOLVING
A change of phase from solid to liquid by combining with a miscible solid with a liquid solvent to become incorporated into a liquid so as to form a solution
DRIVE UNIT
The mechanism in the Agitator's Power Package which converts motor Torque into shaft Torque
DRUM MIXER
Drum mixers will agitate fluids and chemicals in drums and barrels. The most common container is the 200 ltr drum (45 gallon) which are produced in steel or plastic. Mixers can be fitted to the top of closed head as well as open head drums or mounted to pedestal mixing stands. Other container sizes include 25 ltr, 50 ltr and 100 ltr. The IBC (intermediate bulk container) are large rectangular 1000 ltrcontainers
EMULSION
A colloidal dispersion of two or more liquids which are immiscible with each other
EPOXY MORTAR
Epoxy is a thermosetting epoxide polymer that cures when mixed with a catalyzing agent or hardener. Epoxy mortar is normally a two or three component material that mixes together epoxy resin and hardener as a binder together with an aggregate to produce a high strength, hard-wearing mortar resistant to abrasion, weather and chemical attack. It is used for concrete repairs and hard floor surfaces
FOLDING IMPELLORS
These impellers fold for entry into a drum or a bulk tank and then open when in use. 2" bung opening on drums and totes
FORD VISCOSITY CUP
A tool for measuring viscosity as used in the paint industry. It is a small vessel used to measure the thickness of the paint or fluid. The cup is filled with fluid and the time measured in seconds for the cup to discharge
FORCED ACTION MIXER
Forced action mixers transfer motor power to a fast and efficient mix action ensuring homogeneity of materials particularly where the components are not readily miscible. These mixers include rotating drum or rotating paddle arrangements. The material is turned and folded
FREEFALL MIXER
A freefall mixer is a machine with a revolving and tipping drum for discharge into a barrow or mortar tub. This mixer is commonly called a cement or concrete mixer and will combine cement, aggregate such as sand or gravel, and water to form concrete and mortar
GATE PADDLE
An anchor type impeller having horizontal and vertical blades
GROUT
Grout is a construction material used to embed rebars in masonry walls, connect sections of pre-cast concrete, fill voids, and seal joints. Grout is generally composed of a mixture of water, cement, sand and sometimes color tint which is applied as a thick liquid and hardens over time, much like mortar
HELIX PADDLE
A type of impeller consisting of one or more narrow ribbons which spiral around the shaft, affixed to arms mounted on the shaft. It is used for high viscosity liquids or solids
HOMOGENIOUS
Homogenization is a process used in many fields such as chemistry for the intensive mixing of mutually insoluble materials to obtain a soluble suspension or emulsion, that results in a mixture that is the same throughout the entire substance
IMPELLOR
The portion of the agitator imparting force to the material being mixed. Propellers, Turbines, Gates, Anchors and Paddles are all types of Impellers
INDUSTRIAL MIXERS
Industrial mixers use a shaft, screw, blades, ribbons, impellers or propellers to mix industrial materials such as adhesives, chemicals, construction materials, minerals, coatings and paints. They are also used in food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and water treatment applications. Industrial mixers force sediment to flow in one direction and can intensify physical and chemical processes
LAMINAR FLOW
Fluid flow characterized by long, smooth flow currents, mainly in the same direction as the bulk of the flow with little interaction between them
MIXER
A mixer consisting of a power drive, shaft and impellor to provide agitation of the contents of a vessel, container or tub
MIXING
The process of putting power into a system, usually for the purpose of producing greater material uniformity
MORTAR
Mortar is a material used in masonry to fill the gaps between blocks in construction. Mortar is a mixture of sand, a binder such as cement or lime, and water and is applied as a paste which sets hard. Portland cement mortar is the basis for concrete, a mixture usually comprised of this particular mortar with the addition of gravel
MOTOR DRIVE
The drive unit of an paddle, normally mounted above the mixing vessel. It converts power into the mechanical energy for mixing. Drive units are normally electric or air powered
PADDLE
A mixer that includes the mixer impellor and mixer shaft
PAINT
Paint is the general term for decorative and protective coatings used to coat and add color to a surface by covering it with a pigmented film. There are three primary components to a paint: binder, diluent, and additives. Pigments are among the most common additives as they give a color to a paint. Typical binders include synthetic or natural resins such as acrylics, polyurethanes, polyesters, melamines, epoxy, or oils
PERIPHERAL SPEED
Shaft speed is measured in revolutions per minute (rpm). The main mixing action is generated at the tip of the mixer paddle; the larger the mixer paddle the faster the peripheral speed of the impellor tip. Peripheral speed is measured in metres per second (m/s). The impellor tip speed can be gauged by Velocity (m/s) = Diameter of paddle (mm) x 3.14 (π) x Speed of spindle (rpm) ÷ 1000 x 60. An 100mm paddle with a spindle speed of 1000 rpm will have an impellor tip speed of 5.2 m/s
PITCH
For a turbine impellor, the angle the blades make with a horizontal plane
PLASTER
Plaster is a building material produced from gypsum. When dry plaster powder is mixed with water it can be trowel or spray applied to wall surfaces. Unlike cement, plaster remains quite soft after drying, making it suitable for a finishing rather than as a load-bearing material
PROPELLER
A three or four bladed impellor that generates an axial flow
PUMPING RATE
The volumetric discharge rate of an impeller operating at a given speed, measured at the Impeller
RADIAL FLOW
The movement of a fluid from the center of the tank to the wall. A radial turbine impellor has vertical blades generates radial flow
RENDER
Render is a material made of an aggregate, cement and water which is applied wet, and hardens when it dries to the exterior of buildings. In Europe the term stucco is more commonly used. Render may be used to weaterproof and finish external structures and cover less visually appealing construction materials such as concrete, block or damaged brick or masonary. It is also used to finish external insulation
RESIN
Synthetic resins are materials with similar properties to natural resins—viscous liquids capable of hardening. They are typically derivatives of oil based and of organic compounds. The classic variety is epoxy resin and is used as a thermoset polymer for adhesives, mortars and composites. Other types of resin include polyester, polyurethane, epoxy, acrylic and methacrylate
SCREED
Floor screeds are an in-situ flooring of cement mortar laid to an accurate flat surface by screeding, or by self-leveling, usually as the base for a separate floor finish to topping
SERVICE FACTOR
A numerical rating system of gear trains based on operating time, type of drive, and duty required. See Gear Box Rating.
SHEAR
As applied to liquid mixing, it is that portion of the applied power which appears as turbulence, recycling drag on the blades, etc. It is the action which produces intimate mixing on a microscopic and molecular scale.
SLINGER
A device attached to a shaft above the liquid level to prevent the liquid from climbing or splashing up on the shaft
SOLIDS WETTING
Dispersing solid particles so that a liquid film coats each particle. A solid suspension or slurry is a a thick suspension of solids in a liquid
SPECIFIC GRAVITY
The density of a material compared to the density of water at standard conditions. In the metric system, water has a density of 1 gram/ml, so density and specific gravity are numerically equal
SPIRAL PADDLE
A type of impeller consisting of one or more narrow ribbons which spiral around the shaft, affixed to arms mounted on the shaft. It is used for high viscosity liquids or solids
THIXOTROPIC
A material whose viscosity drops gradually at a constant shear rate, as opposed to materials whose viscosity changes instantaneously with changing shear rate. When shear is removed, viscosity of thixotropic materials gradually increases again
TORQUE
The torsional moment exerted by a body such as an impeller rotating at a constant speed
TURBINE
A multibladed short armed impeller. The impeller diameter to tank diameter ratio usually varies from 0.2 to 0.5 for turbines.
VIBRATION LEVELS
Hand-arm vibration is vibration transmitted during work processes into workers’ hands and arms. Vibration levels are measured in metres per second and govern how long a hand held power mixer can be used. Generally most mixers will have a vibration level under 2.5m/s which is the point where vibration levels need monitoring
VISCOSITY
The measure of resistance of a fluid to flow when a force is applied to it. Absolute Viscosity is usually measured in centipoises (cp). Water at room temperature has a viscosity of one cp. Kinematic Viscosity is reported in many different forms depending on the measuring instrument. It is convertible into centistokes. Centipoises equals centistokes multiplied by Specific Gravity of the fluid
VOLUME
Volume and capacity are sometimes distinguished, with capacity being used for how much a container can hold (with contents measured commonly in litres), and volume being how much space an object displaces (commonly measured in cubic metres). One litre is also slightly less than one imperial quart
The litre is often also used in some calculated measurements, such as density (kg/L), allowing an easy comparison with the density of water. One litre of water has a mass of almost exactly one kilogram
VORTEX
A whirlpool depression occurring in a liquid surface during mixing. A swirl is the area of a liquid about an agitator shaft where little relative motion within the mix is obtained