Use of Power Integrator and Dynamic Stress Relaxometer to Shorten Mixing Cycles and Establish Scale-Up Criteria for Internal Mixers

Abstract

The need for increased production from existing internal mixers has required the reduction of cycle times. The shortening of the cycle also enables mixing with less energy. However, the shortened mixing cycle requires closer control. Our ability to successfully shorten mixing cycles and to combine two-step mixes into one-step has been the direct result of the consistent mixing and uniform stock made possible through energy controlled mixing. Energy controlled mixing has worked, because we have had the necessary tools, the Power Integrator and Dynamic Stress Relaxometer. The transition of a new recipe from research and development to production can be slow and difficult. We believe that energy controlled mixing can reduce the shakedown time required to introduce a new recipe into production. It can also allow production problems to be successfully scaled-down for solution in laboratory mixers.