ABSTRACT

An emulsion-forming process can reach several different levels of viscosity during manufacture. Often the range is too wide to specify one simple mixing device to handle all requirements. A number of different options are available to address this problem. If scraped-surface and/or counter-rotating agitation is required due to viscosities near the 50,000-100,000 centipoise level, there are designs that combine this type of mixer with a high-shear rotor/stator mixer. This enables a single vessel to work throughout the entire viscosity range. On the other hand, the process might be carried out by conducting the high shear in one kettle and then, for example, performing the cooling step in a second kettle. Usually, the high-shear mixer-whatever type-is used only during the important dispersion portion of the process. The slow cooling step uses only the low-shear mixer.