Traditional Mixing Process Research Articles

Enhancement of Green Tires Performance through Ultrasound-Assisted Mixing.

Combined with the traditional internal mixing process, a custom-built ultrasonic generator was introduced in this study. The effect of ultrasonic parameters on the comprehensive performance of tread rubber formulations was investigated. Compared to the traditional mixing process without ultrasonic wave loading, the introduction of ultrasonic enhanced the dispersion and distribution of composite particles in the rubber matrix and improved the overall performance of rubber products. The devil’s triangle relationship among the rolling resistance, wet skid resistance, and abrasion resistance of tires was improved. When the wet skid resistance was slightly lost, the rolling resistance and wear rate were effectively reduced. This study provides new insights into a strategy for optimizing the mixing process of the traditional internal mixer, reducing vehicle emissions, extending the service life of tires, and promoting the development of green tires.

Use of two-stage dough mixing process in improving water distribution of dough and qualities of bread made from wheat–potato flour

The two-stage dough mixing process was innovated to improve the qualities of bread made from potato flour (PF) and wheat flour at a ratio of 1:1 (w/w). The final dough was first prepared from wheat flour before being added with PF. The effects of the method on enhancing the dough qualities were verified, and the distribution of water in gluten-gelatinized starch matrix of the doughs was investigated. We observed that the bread qualities were improved, as reflected by the increase of specific volume from 2.26 to 2.96 mL g–1 and the decrease of crumb hardness from 417.93 to 255.57 g. The results from rheofermentometric measurements showed that the dough mixed using the developed mixing method had higher maximum dough height value, time of dough porosity appearance, and gas retention coefficient, as well as enhanced gluten matrix formation compared to that mixed by the traditional mixing method. The results from low-field nuclear magnetic resonance confirmed that the competitive water absorption between gluten and gelatinized starch could restrict the formation of gluten network in the dough mixed using the traditional mixing process. Using the novel mixing method, gluten could be sufficiently hydrated in stage 1, which could then weaken the competitive water absorption caused by gelatinized starch in stage 2; this could also be indicated by the greater mobility of proton in PF and better development of gluten network during mixing.

Study on the Laboratory Mixing and Compaction Methodology of Emulsified Asphalt Cold Recycled Mixture

Emulsified asphalt cold recycled mixture is commonly used in the upper base course of expressway reconstruction asphalt pavement. When the following layer is paved with hot-mix asphalt (HMA) mixture, the aging asphalt in the recycled material is activated due to the temperature conduction effect of the HMA mixture, so that the cold recycled layer produces “secondary thermal compaction” under the action of a roller. Based on this phenomenon, the present study aimed to discuss the influence of different molding methods and mixing processes on the volume parameters and mechanical properties of cold recycled emulsified asphalt mixture. The influences of Marshall compaction times, gyratory compaction times, curing time, and specimen-forming temperature on the voids and splitting strength of cold recycled mixture were studied. Compared with the field core sample, the laboratory-forming method, which accords with the field compaction condition of the cold recycled upper base, is recommended, that is, first-time compaction number of small Marshall is 100 times and secondary thermal compaction number is 50 times (previous research)（Shorthand for 100+50）, the compaction times of large Marshall specimen is “150 + 75”, gyratory specimen is “30+15”. The curing time of cold recycled mixture should not exceed 3 h and should not be constructed in low-temperature weather to ensure the quality of pavement construction. The use of a new stage and step laboratory mixing process simulating the plant mixing, compared with the traditional mixing process, increases the splitting strength by at least 13%.

Microstructure of synthetic composite interfaces and verification of mixing order in cold-recycled asphalt emulsion mixture

Cold recycling technology is getting more and more attention due to economic and environmental benefits by reduced energy consumption and resource conservation. However, its application has been limited to the base and subbase layer because of complicated components and poor crack resistance for the last decades. The design method has shortcomings especially the traditional mixing order, which may be one of the reasons for poor crack resistance. To support the viewpoint above, synthetic composite interfaces were designed to simulate the worst situation during the traditional mixing process and observed in micro scale by scanning electron microscopy. In the microstructure of the traditional mixing order, it was apparent that cement paste had a number of microdefects, a signal of lower interfacial adhesive strength. Moreover, based on the microscopic observation, the adding sequence of cement ought to be changed and two optimized mixing orders were designed of which the difference was verified by the SEM observation of synthetic composite interfaces and the mechanical experiments for different curing time. It can be summarized that mechanical performance was consistent with the microscopic observation. The traditional mixing order was the worst one both in the strength and moisture sensitivity. Finally, the optimal mixing order is put forward to decrease the possibility of the adverse interface, that is, the graded aggregates are mixed with additional water first to reach the workability, while cement, asphalt emulsion and mineral powder are mixed to form cement-asphalt emulsion mortar, finally mixing them all up.

Micromixing-assisted preparation of TiO2 films from ammonium hexafluorotitanate and urea by liquid phase deposition based on simulation of mixing process in T-shaped micromixer

Abstract Preparation of well-ordered TiO2 films from alkaline solution by liquid phase deposition (LPD) method is still challenging owing to the fact that, in traditional mixing process, several disadvantages exist in controllable homogenous chemical reactions. In this contribution, mixing process in a porous dispersed double T-junction micromixer was designed and investigated using numerical simulation. It is obtained that high mixing intensity can be achieved by micromixer with inlet velocity of 0.6 m s−1 and microfiltration meshes 10 μm in size. A micromixing-assisted platform consisted of two syringe pumps and a micromixer was manufactured to efficiently fabricate TiO2 films via mixing of (NH4)2TiF6 and CO(NH2)2 as reactants and fluorine doped tin oxide, F: SnO2 (FTO), conducting glass substrates by LPD in alkaline solutions. The results suggest that surface morphology of TiO2 films fabricated by micromixing can be easily controlled in comparison with that of specimens prepared by traditional stirring mixing process. The dense and well-ordered TiO2 films derived from micromixing have enhanced adhesion strength, high hardness, good hydrophilic and excellent photoelectrochemical properties. Particularly, homogeneous reaction could be inhibited in micromixer and an ideal supersaturation solution would be formed via micromixing treatment, which significantly facilitates the formation of high quality TiO2 films by heterogeneous nucleation on substrate surface. These obtained achievements are expected to promote further application of TiO2 films in a variety of domains including photocatalysis and corrosion protection of metals.

Energy consumption reduction in concrete mixing process by optimizing mixing time

Mixing process plays a very important role in the concrete microstructure which defines the quality of the final product. The improvement of energy efficiency during this process can help to reduce energy consumption and production costs, without affecting product quality. However, the current concrete mixing practice using an equal mixing time for all batches of each concrete mix design may lead to unnecessary mixing time and energy waste.The present study investigates the benefit of the mixing time optimization for energy consumption reduction during the concrete mixing process. For this purpose, a reliable method based on mixing power evolution is devised to calculate the shortest necessary mixing time (stabilisation time) of each concrete batch. The batch mixing energy consumption is also determined, through the use of power consumption and the duration of mixing cycle.Experimental data obtained from 17 concrete batches of two mix designs produced in a full-scale concrete plant were analyzed to figure out the energy consumption difference between the current mixing process of a single mixing time and the one of mixing time optimization. The research results show that by optimizing the mixing time, energy consumption is reduced by about 17% in comparison with the traditional mixing process. Productivity gains are significantly marked by obtaining a reduction in average mixing time of 32%.

ER fluid based on zeolite and silicone oil with high strength

An ER fluid based on zeolite and silicone oil with high shear yield stress was reported in this paper. Different from traditional mixing process in preparing ER fluid, a post-oven process technique was introduced in the preparing of ER fluid. After microwave dealing with the mixed fluid, the shear yield strength of the ER fluid increased. Testing results showed that shear yield stress of the ER fluid over 20 kPa when 5 kV/mm electric field (dc) was applied had been accessed.