Semi-Solid Mixers

Industrial Pharmacy Department

Dr. Rowan Mohamed Ahmed
4th Year Pharmacy – Fall 2010
Mixing: An Introduction
Definition:
• It’s the most widely used operation in
which two or more substances are
combined together.
• Perfect Mixing is that in which each
particle of one material lies as nearly
adjacent as possible to a particle of the
other material.
• Mixing depends on the purpose of the
product and the objective of mixing.
• This process may involve the mixing of
gases, liquids or solids in any possible
combination.
Mixing: An Introduction
• Objectives of Mixing:
1. Simple Physical mixing of
materials to form uniform
mixture.
2. To promote the chemical
reaction to get uniform products.
3. Dispersion of solid in liquid to
form suspension or paste.
4. Dispersion of two immiscible
liquids to form an emulsion.
Mixing: An Introduction
• Simple Mixing Processes include:
1. Mixing of a gas with another gas.
2. Mixing of miscible low viscosity liquid.
3. Mixing of a highly soluble solid with a low viscosity
liquid to effect dissolution.
Mixing: An Introduction
• Mixing Operations Needing Specialized
equipments:
1. Mixing of gases with liquids
2. Mixing of liquids of high viscosity though miscible
3. Mixing of two immiscible liquids such as aqueous and
oily solutions to form emulsions
4. Mixing of solids with liquids when the proportion of
solids is high
5. Mixing of solids with solids
Mixing: An Introduction
• Some of the examples of large
scale mixing practiced in
pharmacy:
• Mixing of powders prior to granulation or
tableting.
• Dry mixing for direct compression in
tablets.
• Dry blending of powders in capsules.
• Dissolution of soluble solids in viscous
liquids for dispensing in soft capsules and
in the preparation of syrups.
• Mixing of two immiscible liquids for
preparation of emulsions.
Mixing of Semi-Solids:
• The mechanisms involved in mixing semi solids
depend on the character of the material which may
show considerable variation.
• Many semi solids form neutral mixtures having no
tendency to segregate although sedimentation may
occur.

• Factors to be taken into consideration while

selecting a mixing equipment include:
(1) Physical properties of materials to be mixed
such as density, viscosity and miscibility.
(2) Economic considerations: operating efficiency,
cost and maintenance.
Semi-Solid Mixers:
The most commonly used semi solid mixers
are:

1. Sigma blade mixer (Double arm mixer)

2. Triple-roller mill (Three roll mill)

1) Sigma Blade Mixer
• Engineered for mixing and homogenizing wet, pasty
and highly viscous products.
• The two Double Arm Sigma shaped blades, which
sit horizontally and parallel at the bottom of the
mixing trough, provide thorough mixing.
• The blades rotate at different speeds in opposite
directions causing the product to be transferred from
blade to blade and from end to end.
• Valves can be located in the bottom of the unit,
allowing the product to discharge
through plug, ball, or "bomb bay"
type valves.
1) Sigma Blade Mixer
1) Sigma Blade Mixer
Options of the mixer:
• Mechanical or hydraulic drive system
• Jacketed mixing troughs or heating and cooling
• Designed for pressure, vacuum, or inert gas operation
• Remote operator control.
• Specialized die heads / special extrusion spouts.
• Automated operation of cover via hydraulic piston.
• Cored blades of various design.
1) Sigma Blade Mixer:
• Laboratory Mixers are available in sizes ranging
from 1/4 gallon to 3 gallon working capacity.
• Variable speed drive on the blades standard.
Stainless steel construction standard, jacketed is
standard.
1) Sigma Blade Mixer:
Applications:
• Ideal for mixing, kneading of highly viscous mass,
sticky and dough like products.
• Mixing of pastes, rubber, and heavy plastic masses.
• Applications in Food, Pharmaceutical and Chemical
industries.
• Dry powder to wet phase mixing
• Used for products like granulation masses and
ointments.
2) Triple Roller Mill
• A Triple Roll Mill is a machine that uses the shear
force created by three horizontally positioned rolls
rotating at opposite directions and different speeds
relative to each other to mix, refine, disperse, or
homogenize viscous materials fed into it.
• The pasty substance is fed into the hoper, where it is
drawn between the feed and center rollers.
2) Triple Roller Mill
• When pre-dispersed, the substance sticks to the
bottom of the center roller, which transports it into
the second gap.
• In this gap the paste is dispersed to the desired
degree of fineness.
• The scraper system removes the finished product
from the apron roller.
2) Triple Roller Mill
Applications:
• Used to mix electronic thick film inks, high performance
ceramic, cosmetics, carbon/graphite, paints, printing
inks, chemicals, glass coatings, dental composites,
pigment, coatings, adhesives, and foods.
• Utilized in the production of cable cover, electronics,
soap and artificial plastics.
• The roller mills are generally used to grind and
complete the homogeneity of ointments.
References
• http://www.pharmatutor.org/pharmaceutics/mixing-
of-pharmaceuticals-mechanism.html
• http://www.jaygoinc.com/extruders.htm
• http://shaktipharmatech.com/triple-roller-mill.html
• http://www.microlambda.com.my/triple.htm
• http://www.brighthub.com/engineering/mechanical/a
rticles/57247.aspx#ixzz125KqFJnu
ThanQ !!