The World's Fastest, Most Effective Mixer
The fastest, most efficient mixing achievable today is realized in the Paul O Abbe “Fluid Zone (Forberg Style)” line. These new mixers, with their distinctive counter-rotating paddle action, represent an entirely new generation in mixer technology. They provide complete homogeneity – a mix variance that is less than 1% - in seconds rather than minutes. And they also prevent re-segregation if mixing cycles are continued beyond completion, even where the particles are of widely differing size and density.

At the conclusion of the cycle, the mix is discharges in bulk through large “bomb bay” doors at the bottom of the mixing chamber, thus eliminating another common opportunity for re-segregation

If liquid addition is necessary, it can be added directly or through spray nozzles mounted directly above the mixing chamber. More difficult liquid-addition needs are met through optional flow distortion bars or by the use of a pin-mill agitator that adds shear forces to integrate liquid as it is added to the mix.

High Throughout With Fragile Materials
With cycle times reduced to seconds and fast discharge, the new Paul O. Abbe “Fluid Zone" (Forberg StyleI) mixers can provide a through-put/per hour of up to 60 times their rated capacities. Also, the short cycle time and slow paddle speeds mean that even the most fragile materials can be handled without mechanical or friction induced heat damage.

A wide range of models with capacities from 0.2 to 175 cubic feet is available, fabricated in carbon steel, stainless steel or any other weldable alloy, and with or without liquid-addition capability.

Two materials of identical particle size and density will proceed very quickly to a random mix if they are simply put into chaotic motion together. Most conventional mixers are based on this “chaotic motion” effect despite the fact that very few commercial mixes involve materials that are identical in size and density. They succeed to a greater or lesser extent by how they counter the tendency of the dissimilar materials to segregate by size and mass within the mixing chamber due to the effects of gravity.

A New Approach
TheAbbe Fluid Zone (Forberg Style) design achieves its results by inducing chaotic motion in the mix while providing a free-fall, “zero-gravity” fluidized zone mixing area in which relative motion is also random regardless of particle size and density. The elements of the mix then quickly proceed to a random spatial relationship with each other as if they were physically identical.

The key to the speed and efficiency of a Paul O. Abbe “Fluid Zone (Forberg Style)I’ mixer is the specifically designed, overlapping paddles within the mixing chamber. The paddle blades induce chaotic motion. But also, with the paddles counter-rotating at the optimized tip-speed, the fluidized zone develops. Opposing forces, the combination of the lift of the paddles and the free-fall that follows the lift, effectively cancel out the force of gravity in the center of the mixing chamber. This is the Abbe Fluid Zone (Forberg Style) zero-gravity fluidized zone, the key to effective mixing.

Adding Liquids
For absorption or coatings, liquids can usually be added to the mix, either directly or through a spray nozzle. If large volumes are involved, the basic design can be enhanced by the addition of special liquid-addition features, the flow distortion bar and pin-mill system. These allow the liquid elements of a mix to be introduced more quickly and efficiently.

The flow distortion bar randomizes the liquid flow as it is introduced into the mix. The pin-mill system provides a shear force that works in combination with the fluidized zero-gravity zone. Its counter-rotating and stationary milling rods work to provide additional agitation to the surface of the mix immediately as it leaves the zero-gravity zone where liquid has been added. This assures even distribution of the liquid elements and prevents agglomeration.