Dry coating in a high shear mixer: Comparison of experimental results with DEM analysis of particle motions

Abstract

Experimental dry coating of guest particles on the surface of host particles is performed by mechanical forces in a high shear mixer called “Cyclomix”. The studied system (a mixture of particles of sugar, “Suglet™” as host particles and magnesium stearate as guest particles) was chosen as a model one to achieve better understandings of the phenomena during mixing. To simulate the flow of host/guest particles in the mixer, the Discrete Element Method (DEM) was applied. Experimental results such as flowability and wettability can be explained by particles flows evolutions with different rotational speed or duration treatment inside the Cyclomix.