초록 ▼

Liquids of different viscosity are mixed together more rapidly and with less energy consumption by elongating drops of the more-viscous liquid prior to mixing them into the less-viscous surrounding liquid. The more-viscous drops are elongated past a critical aspect ratio that is a function of the ra

Liquids of different viscosity are mixed together more rapidly and with less energy consumption by elongating drops of the more-viscous liquid prior to mixing them into the less-viscous surrounding liquid. The more-viscous drops are elongated past a critical aspect ratio that is a function of the ratio of the viscosities of the two liquids and of the relative volume fractions they occupy. The rate at which the more-viscous drops mix into the surrounding liquid is dependent on the amount of shear strain required to stretch the drops to their critical aspect ratio, and thus, if the drops begin the mixing process already elongated, the rate of mixing is greater. In polymer blending operations, wherein a tumbled mixture of polymer pellets are melted and blended, the more-viscous pellets are elongated in the pelletizing operation. The mixing technique can be applied whenever the more-viscous drops are distributed discontinuously through a mixture, i.e., whenever they do not form a continously connected matrix. This occurs most often when the more-viscous liquid is in the minority, but may occur when it is in the majority.

대표청구항 ▼

The method of mixing viscous liquids of different viscosity wherein a more-viscous component is distributed discontinuously in a less-viscous phase, said method comprising the steps of forming a plurality of nonspherical, pre-elongated drops of the more-viscous component, thereafter combining said p

The method of mixing viscous liquids of different viscosity wherein a more-viscous component is distributed discontinuously in a less-viscous phase, said method comprising the steps of forming a plurality of nonspherical, pre-elongated drops of the more-viscous component, thereafter combining said pre-elongated drops and less-viscous phase, and deforming the mixture of said pre-elongated drops and less-viscous phase to further elongate said drops, wherein said drops of more-viscous component are elongated to at least 50% of a critical aspect ratio (l/d)crit, defined by the expression [Figure] wherein (l/d)crit is the critical aspect ratio, mmfv is the volume fraction occupied by the more-viscous drops.