Mixing adhesives and sealants requires precision and repeatability.
All materials and active ingredients of any quantity are thoroughly homogenized, reducing material waste, with perfect dispersion of additives and fillers. FlackTek™ single-use mixing containers enable seamless transitions between formulas, eliminating the risk of cross-contamination.
Common Challenges and Solutions
The Challenge: Variations in mixing can lead to uneven distribution of additives, fillers, and other components, resulting in variations in product performance and quality.
The Solution: The high-speed mixing action of FlackTek™ mixers ensures rapid and thorough dispersion of additives, fillers, and resins, resulting in a homogeneous mixture. This uniform distribution promotes consistent performance, improved bonding, and optimized coating properties.
The Challenge: Agglomerates can impact the product's performance, appearance, and application properties.
The Solution: The unique flow of materials in a FlackTek™ ensures that even the smallest amount of material is homogenized. Simple control over mixing speed and duration enables users full control over material processing. Since FlackTek™ offers a non-invasive mixing technology, there are no blades or other physical inhibitors inside the mixing container which could interrupt flow of material and potentially create “hot spots” in a dispersion. Bladeless mixing eliminates the potential for material loss on stirring blades, propellers, or homogenizing heads, guaranteeing precise and repeatable results in every mix.
The Challenge: Entrained air, moisture, voids, and gaps can greatly affect the quality and performance of adhesives.
The Solution: FlackTek™ mixers naturally de-air during the centrifugal process, and can also utilize additional optional vacuum capabilities to effectively remove entrapped air bubbles during mixing. This feature is crucial for adhesives, sealants, and coatings, as the presence of air bubbles can compromise bonding strength, surface appearance, and coating integrity. By minimizing air entrapment, FlackTek™ mixers improve overall product performance.
We help you process these materials, and more…
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Sealants
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Conformal coatings, and electronics coatings
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Asphalt emulsions
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Thermal sealants and coatings
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Roofing and industrial sealants
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Adhesives (e.g. 3M Scotch-Weld Acrylic Adhesive DP810NS, Henkel Loctite, 3104 Acrylic Adhesive, Permabond TA4610 Acrylic Adhesive)
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Hardeners (e.g. Devcon 5-Minute Epoxy Hardener, SikaFast 5215)
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Curing Agents
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Dow Corning Sylgard 184
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Silicone Elastomers
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Solvents (e.g. Klean-Strip Acetone, Denatured Ethyl Acetate)
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Glass Microballoons or microspheres
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Fumed silica (Cabosil, aerosil, etc)
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Insulators/conductors
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Diluents – to decrease viscosity
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Bondline control beads for bond thickness regulation
Frequently Asked Questions
How does FlackTek™ mixer improve the dispersion of additives in adhesives, sealants, and coatings?
High-speed processing with a FlackTek™ allows users to utilize high shear forces that effectively break down agglomerates and disperse additives, resulting in improved homogeneity and uniform distribution throughout the mixture. This promotes consistent performance and enhances the desired properties of the adhesive, sealant, or coating. If high-shear environments are a concern for your chemistry or formulation, you can also choose lower speeds and times to reduce shear and operate in a low shear environment.
How do you maintain material integrity during the mixing process?
FlackTek™ mixers offer precise control over mixing parameters such as speed, time, vacuum pressure, and more. By providing accurate control with these variables, the mixer enables users to follow specific mixing protocols optimized for the compatibility of adhesive, sealant, and coating components and other formulations. This ensures proper homogenization without compromising chemical stability or material performance.
Can I scale up from laboratory-scale to production-scale mixing?
Yes, FlackTek™ mixers offer scalability, allowing seamless transition from laboratory-scale to production-scale mixing. They are available in various sizes to accommodate different batch volumes. Manufacturers can upscale their mixing processes, maintaining consistent parameters and ensuring reliable results at larger production volumes.