National University of Science & Technology

School of Chemical & Material Engineering

Assignment no.1

Particulate Technology

Mohammad Hamza Abbas 2009-NUST-BE-Chem-10 Submitted to Umair Sikander

What are the different factors that effect the mixing operation? How do they effect thus operation?
Following are the different factors that affect the mixing operation:

1. Filling of mixer:
The mixer should be filled up to moderate level. The mixer must not be overfilled or low filled. Overfilling reduces the efficiency and do not allow sufficient space for dilation of the powder. Overfilling also prevents the movements of the powders.

2. Application of mechanism:
Different mixers use different forces for mixing like compression, tensile force and shear etc. Application of shear force is most efficient. It causes the change of position of powder regularly so the mixing is complete and efficient. Localized shear forces are applied as agitator or ribbon. This cause overall movement of powder giving efficient mixing, but may cause some sort of size reduction which would be undesirable.

3. Time
Optimum time for mixing is determined by experience. Increasing the time of mixing will cause segregation while decreasing the time of mixing will not give complete mixing. So the time selected should be moderate.

4. Handling of solids:
The solids required for mixing should be kept under light conditions. If they encounter hard conditions then segregation occur which will make the mixing inefficient. So Light handling of is required to prevent segregation.

5-Speed:
Speed of the mixer should be optimum, increasing the speed causes adhesion of powder on the walls of the mixer.

6. Irregular feeding in the mixer:

The materials must not be placed in layers. If placed in layers, mixing will affect the upper layer only. So, materials are premixed or put side - by side and mixing starts immediately.

7-Properties of the Material: i. Particle size:

The particle sizes must be nearly similar in all particles of the mixture. Increasing particle size will lead to size separation, since small particles can fall through the voids between the larger particles. Constant movement of the mixer may lead to suspension of fine particles in air.

ii- Density
The difference in densities among mixed particles will lead to size separation. The heavy particles settle down while light ones will rise up. This is forced if the heavy particles are coarse and the light particles are finer so mixed particles would be equal in density to attain good mixing.

iii- Electrostatic charges:

These charges are formed due to constant friction among the mixed particles. Similar charges repel particles from each others leading to segregation.