An Overview of Sigma Mixer

Sigma mixer is the most effective and reliable, and strong machine that is used for heavy-duty like mixing, grinding, drying, etc. The sigma mixer is one of the popular machines used for mixing and producing high viscosity materials. Sigma mixer is having the ability to produce high viscosity materials like paint, polymers, plastic, pharmaceuticals, different types of chemicals, soap and detergent, food products, rubber compounds, etc.

Double Arm Kneader Mixers

Double Arm Kneader Mixers is equipped with two mixing blades placed in a W shape horizontal trough. The blade profiles in the double arm kneader mixers are sigma blade, masticator blade, shredder blade, naben blade, and spiral blade which are best suited for a particular type of application. The rotation of the blades in Double Arm Kneader Mixers is tangential to each other or the blades can overlap over the trough. The blade rotation is toward each other at the same, or differential speeds. Without the need for any additional chopper, the machine can produce a consistent particle size distribution. These mixers or machines are capable of handling materials with viscosities high as 10 million centipoises. In a double arm kneader mixer, the power consumption is very high from 45 to 75 KW/m3 of mix material as compared to other types of mixers.

Sigma Blade Mixer

In Sigma Blade Mixer handling viscous material is important to promote both lateral and transverse motion of the material. The sigma blade is designed in such a way that the viscous mass of the material is compressed, sheared, pulled, and fold by the blades against the walls of the mixer trough.

Tangential and Overlapping Blade Action

For high viscosities such as rubber compounds, flush colors, pigment, and dye, the peripheral blades are used usually. Due to the overlapping blade action, the position of the blades must be unchanged, and the blades rotate at the same speed. Materials that flow freely in the mixer or move down into the blade are varied using the overlap blade action. This process offers the fast interchange of material from one blade section to the other section of the mixer. A lower kneading and shearing is produced through the overlapping blade as compared to the tangential blade action.

Operation of Sigma Blade Mixer

In the process, the material is loaded through the top of the container, in 40 to 65 percent of the total mixer volumetric capacity. The rotation of the blade is done through the high-duty drive systems consist of a motor, gears, gearbox, and couplings. The speed of the sigma mixer is limited to 60 meters per minute. The mixing can be carried out through the sigma mixer at ambient temperature or under controlled conditions, to maintain the required temperature within the mixer the troughs can be provided with jackets for transmission of hot or cold media to control the temperature condition. The material release through the mixer container is done by tilting the mixer container, bottom discharge valve, or through an extruder located in the lower portion between the two compartments. The tilting discharge arrangement through the container can be done through manual operation or can be done by using the motorized or hydraulic arrangement.