Dispersing Process
A dispersion process relates to the mixing of powders and liquids. A powder once added to any liquid will either dissolve or need to be maintained in a suspension within the liquid. Many solids form agglomerates or clusters once introduced to a liquid phase and the larger the agglomerates the more likely the solid phase will settle out. Mixing energy helps break apart these agglomerates and disperse them into a solution so they are scattered throughout the liquid phase more uniformly without settling.
A high-pressure homogenizer dramatically changes the velocity of the slurry over short distance and this serves to tear agglomerates apart very effectively. Homogenizers in general will not reduce primary particle sizes. For this, you would investigate Colloid Mills to grind or crush individual solid particulates.
The addition of powders into liquid solutions commonly creates particle clusters that fuse together. These particle clusters, or agglomerates, prevent the solids phase from staying in suspension within the liquid phase and settling occurs. Most manufacturers obviously don’t like or want these larger particles and need to get the solid phase back to an original particle size. To name a few reasons:
- Reduce or eliminate settling
- Improve slurry performance
- Improve surface area coverage
- Enhanced appearance
