Internal mixer and open mixer
Internal mixer and open mixing mill are two compounding machine in the rubber ,plastic or silicone industry. Many of us may be not sure their different function and confused by these two mixing machine . In this article ,let us talk about their similarities and differences in the functions:
Firstly ,for the similarities as follows:
1. Important mixing materials
Before we talk internal mixer ,we should know what is internal mixer ?
Internal mixers mainly comprise of a chamber to which the compounding ingredients are added. In the chamber are two rotors that generate high shear forces, dispersing the fillers and other raw materials in the polymer. and the two roll open mixing mill is a machine used to process natural rubber into various compounds.
Both compound machines are used to refine rubber or plastic raw materials , and mix various additives evenly so that achieve a certain mixing uniformity of the materials.
2. Heating and shear functions
They all have the functions of heating and shearing, softening or melting the raw materials by heating, and fully mixing and dispersing the raw materials by shearing (gradient, extrusion, etc.).
3. Similar usage for rubber
No matter in the rubber ,or plastics & silicone industries, both internal mixers and open mixing mills can be used for mixing, plasticizing and dispersing raw materials, and even sometimes , they can even replace each other.
4. Both involve mixing formulas
When using these two kinds of mixing machine, we users need to adjust equipment parameters such as temperature, mixing time, etc. As according to different formulas ,these machine would ensure uniform mixing of raw materials and appropriate plasticization state.
However ,there are many different between these two mixing machine. It may differ in structure and design, operation mode, applicable materials, mixing effect, and working environment etc.
1. Structure and design
Internal mixer: The closed pressured mixing mixer is a sealed device with two relatively rotating rotors inside. Pressure lid is driven by oil hydraulic system which can be adjusted to reduce energy consumption. It operates by shearing ,mixing and dispersing rubber compounds along with additive within the enclosed charmber .The intense mechanical action from rotors generates hear ,aiding in the blending process by softening the rubber and enhancing homogeneity.
Open mixing mill : The open mixing mill simply consists of two relatively rotating rollers. The ingredients are sheared and mixed between the two rollers. The entire operation is open and the ingredients are in the air.
2. Operation mode
Internal mixer: commonly used for batch mixing. Its sealing property makes it more suitable for high temperature and high pressure
operating environments, and can prevent the volatilization or oxidation of materials.
Open mixer: The operation is more open, suitable for mixing and processing of small quantities of incoming goods. Because it is open, the operator can directly observe and intervene in the processing process.
3. Applicable materials
Internal mixer: suitable for mixing high-viscosity and high-filling materials, such as rubber, plastic and other high-strength materials, usually used to produce products that require high-performance materials.
Open mixer: suitable for materials with lower viscosity, or for further processing after some processing.
4. Mixing effect
Mixed mixer: Due to the sealed structure, it provides higher mixing efficiency and higher uniformity, and can effectively mix registers, additives and other components.
Open mixing mixer: Because it is open, the mixing effect is relatively less accurate than that of the internal mixer, but it is still suitable for simpler mixing tasks.
5. Application Area:
Internal mixer: commonly used for primary mixing of rubber and plastic, especially suitable for stainless steel and high-performance products, such as tires, seals and other industrial products.
Open mixing mixer: usually used for deep processing of plastics, rubber and other materials, small-scale laboratory tests, or heating and extension operations of materials.
Besides ,The internal mixer is a high-strength intermittent mixing equipment developed on the basis of an open mixing mixer. Thus, the internal mixer is more expensive, but it can be heated, and there is a pressurized internal mixer that can be used to process difficult-to-plasticize materials. Low labor intensity and strong adaptability.
Anyway , the appearance of the internal mixer is an important achievement of rubber machinery, and they are all important equipment for plasticizing and mixing.
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