Two-stage Homogenization Research Articles

IMPROVEMENT OF THE HOMOGENIZER HEAD DESIGN

Summary. An analysis of the equipment used for the homogenization of milk raw materials was carried out. Technologies for obtaining homogenized milk are considered. Disadvantages of existing technological processes have been identified. The areas of improvement of homogenization processes are defined and the need for the development of equipment for their implementation is substantiated. The research methods of the homogenization process are substantiated, a description of the studied raw materials is given, and the design of the homogenizer head is proposed. The influence of the geometric parameters of the modernized homogenizer head on the efficiency of the homogenization process was determined, and the optimal parameters were determined experimentally. As a result of the conducted research, it can be concluded that the homogenization process is very important for the production of pharmaceutical emulsions. The calculation and modeling of the homogenizing head of the valve homogenizer was carried out. In order to carry out two-stage homogenization, it was proposed to modernize the homogenizing head. the previous design is inferior to the modernized one in terms of homogenization of food liquids.

Effect of homogenization treatment on microstructure and properties of novel Al-Mg-Zn-Sc-Zr alloys with different Mg/Zn ratios

This study investigated the effect of homogenization treatment on microstructure and properties of Al-Mg-Zn-Sc-Zr alloys with different Mg/Zn ratios using optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), hardness, and conductivity tests. The results show severe dendrite segregation in Al-Mg-Zn-Sc-Zr ingots produced by water-cooled copper mold casting, with the as-cast microstructure mainly composed of an α-Al matrix, non-equilibrium T-Mg32(Al,Zn)49 phase, and a small amount of coarse primary Al3(Sc, Zr) phase. As Mg/Zn ratio decreases, the volume fraction of T-phase increases from 4.92 % to 5.41 %, and the grain size increases from 15.41 μm to 20.43 μm. DSC curves show the first endothermic peak at 468–475 °C, corresponding to the melting temperature of non-equilibrium second phase, setting the homogenization temperature to 460 °C. As homogenization time increases, non-equilibrium phase gradually dissolves. When Mg/Zn ratio is 1.71, the over-burning phenomenon occurs at 24 h; With the reduction of Mg/Zn ratio to 1.33, the over-burning occurred at 16 h. Two-stage homogenization significantly increased the amount of the second phase Al3(Sc, Zr) and refined grain size. After two-stage homogenization, the hardness and conductivity of the studied alloys with Mg/Zn ratio of 1.77 and 1.31 reach maximum values of 135.53HV and 144.22HV, and the conductivity is 30.10 % IACS and 28.71 % IACS, respectively.

Impact of Incorporating Free Calcium and Magnesium on the Heat Stability of a Dairy- and Soy-Protein-Containing Model Emulsion.

This study investigated the impact of calcium chloride (CaCl2) and magnesium chloride (MgCl2) at varying concentrations on a model milk formulation's physical and chemical properties after thermal treatment. The model milk was subjected to two-stage homogenization and pasteurization before being supplemented with different concentrations of CaCl2 or MgCl2. The findings revealed that elevating the concentration of either calcium or magnesium resulted in the milk emulsion having a higher viscosity and median particle size following heating. CaCl2 had a slightly stronger impact than MgCl2, particularly at higher concentrations. The milk samples also exhibited a reduction in the zeta potential as the ionic strength of the salt solution increased, with the CaCl2-fortified milk displaying a slightly lower negative surface charge than the MgCl2-fortified milk at the same dose. The model milk's viscosity was evaluated after adding various salt concentrations and a temperature ramp from 20 to 80 °C. Notably, the viscosity and particle size changes demonstrated a non-linear relationship with increasing mineral levels, where a significant increase was observed at or above 5.0 mM. An emulsion stability analysis also revealed that the de-stabilization pattern of the high salt concentration sample differed significantly from its low salt concentration counterparts. These findings could serve as a basis for the future development of fortified UHT milk with nutritionally beneficial calcium and magnesium in industrial applications.

Effect of Zn/Mg ratio on the microstructure and mechanical properties of as-cast Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloys and the phase transformation during homogenization

The content of Zn and Mg directly influences the microstructure characteristics of Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloys. In the present study, the solidification phases of three as-cast Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloys with different Zn/Mg ratio (1.5, 1.8 and 2.1 at.%, successively) were thoroughly investigated, and their evolutions during homogenizations were analyzed with the aid of optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that serious dendritic segregation existed in the as-cast microstructures. In the as-cast alloys with three different Zn/Mg ratio, the secondary phases are represented by non-equilibrium intermetallic phases (Mg(Zn,Cu,Al)2 and Al2Cu) and precipitate MgZn2 phase. Thereinto, the Mg(Zn,Cu,Al)2 phase possessed a majority, which was determined through computational analysis of solidification processes. With the increase of Zn/Mg ratio, the amount of Mg(Zn,Cu,Al)2 phase continuously decreased, while the content of Al2Cu phase showed only minor variation. As the Zn/Mg ratio increased, the strength and hardness of the as-cast alloy gradually improved. The Zn/Mg ratio has a significant impact on the dissolution and transformation of the secondary phases during homogenization process. As the Zn/Mg ratio increased, the melting point of the as-cast eutectic gradually decreased. Additionally, due to the higher diffusion rate of Zn compared to Mg and Cu elements, the dissolution rate of the secondary phase increased accordingly. At relatively low temperatures (380, 410, and 440 °C), phase transformation from the Mg(Zn,Cu,Al)2 phase to the Al2CuMg phase occurred in all three alloys. However, phase transformation was only present in Low/Mid-Zn/Mg ratio alloys at 470 °C. These differences are attributed to the varying diffusion rates of Zn, Mg, and Cu elements during the homogenization process. The implementation of a two-stage homogenization process effectively addresses the issue of residual Al2CuMg phase in Low/Mid-Zn/Mg ratio alloys.

Precipitation Behavior of Al3(Sc, Zr) Particles in Al-Mg-Zn Alloy during Two-stage Homogenization

The precipitation of secondary Al3(Sc, Zr) particles in Al-Mg-Zn-Sc-Zr alloy during the two-stage homogenization has been studied by OM, SEM, and TEM. The results indicated that Al3(Sc, Zr) particles grew gradually with the first-stage homogenization temperature ranging from 380°C to 440°C. The first-stage homogenization temperature greatly affected the particle size of Al3(Sc, Zr). The lower the first-stage homogenization temperature was, the smaller the particle size of Al3(Sc, Zr) was. After the same second-stage homogenization treatment, the particles were coarsened, and the size was 15.2 nm, 15.9 nm, and 19.7 nm, respectively. Meanwhile, the Al3(Sc, Zr) particles exhibited a legume-like morphology and maintained a coherent relationship with the Al matrix after different homogenization treatments.

Determining Homogenization Parameters and Predicting 5182-Sc-Zr Alloy Properties by Artificial Neural Networks.

Artificial neural networks (ANNs) were established for the homogenization and recrystallization heat treatment processes of 5182-Sc-Zr alloy. Microhardness and conductivity testing were utilized to determine the precipitation state of Al3(ScxZr1-x) dispersoids during the homogenization treatment, while electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to observe the microstructure evolution of the alloy. Tensile experiments were performed to test the mechanical properties of the alloy after recrystallization annealing. The two-stage homogenization parameters were determined by studying the changes in microhardness and electrical conductivity of 5182-Sc-Zr alloy after homogenization with the assistance of artificial neural networks: the first-stage homogenization at 275 °C for 20 h and the second-stage homogenization at 440 °C for 12 h. The dispersoids had entirely precipitated after homogenization, and the alloy segregation had improved. A high-accuracy prediction model, incorporating multiple influencing factors through artificial neural networks, was successfully established to predict the mechanical properties of the 5182-Sc-Zr alloy after annealing. Based on the atomic plane spacing in HRTEM, it was determined that the Al3(ScxZr1-x) dispersoids and the Al matrix maintained a good coherence relationship after annealing at 400 °C.

Effects of homogenization on the microstructural evolution of a novel Zr and Er containing Al–Mg–Zn alloy

In this study, the microstructural evolution of Al–Mg–Zn–Er–Zr alloys during the homogenization process is investigated. The primary phase dissolution and solute diffusion were studied based on microstructural characterization and kinetic analysis. The results showed that the primary phase completely dissolved and the solute elements are uniformly diffuse for homogenization at 460 °C/24 h. The Al3 (Er, Zr) second phase precipitates during the homogenization of Al–Mg–Zn–Er–Zr alloys. Compared with the traditional single-stage homogenization, the two-stage homogenization promotes the uniform precipitation of the Al3(Er, Zr) phase, which improves the chain distribution of the Al3(Er, Zr) phase and increases hardness of the alloy. The optimal homogenization treatment is 320 °C/10 h + 460 °C/24 h, which is consistent with the results of the homogenization kinetic analysis.

Natural egg yolk emulsion as wall material to encapsulate DHA by two-stage homogenization: Emulsion stability, rheology analysis and powder properties

The use of safe physical means to achieve egg yolk as natural carrier for active ingredients plays an important role in increasing the added value of egg yolk. In this paper, we prepared DHA-fortified egg yolk emulsion using high-speed shearing (HSS) only and HSS combined with high-pressure homogenization (HPH), respectively. HPH reduced particle size and zeta potential, allowing for better emulsion stability. After 14 days of storage, the encapsulation efficiency was 93.88% even with 15% (w/w) algae oil addition. Rheology analysis presented that HPH improve the viscoelasticity, indicating the enhancement of interaction force between droplets. Then, vaccum low-temperature spray drying (VLTSD) was used to produce powder, which allowed for minimal damage to the encapsulation structure according to scanning electron microscopy and the hydration properties of powder was improved. This work provides a new idea for using egg yolk to encapsulate DHA and improving the properties of egg yolk powder.

Multi-scale description of hydro-mechanical coupling in swelling clays. Part I: Nonlinear poroelasticity

This paper presents a micromechanical description of the swelling behavior of partially saturated clays following a two-stage homogenization procedure on a three-dimensional Representative Elementary Volume (REV) of clay. At the nano-scale, the REV of clay particles includes idealized parallel clay platelets and oblate spheroidal pores in between them that are saturated with an electrolyte solution. Swelling forces at all spacing ranges, including the crystalline and osmotic regimes, are considered. At the micro-scale, the REV of clay is comprised of dispersed clay aggregates and partially saturated (variably-sized) spherical pores in between them. At issue, is reconstructing the couplings of mechanical, hydraulic and electrochemical forces at the macroscopic level and their effect on the overall behavior of clay. In Part I, we focus on reversible deformation mechanisms in clay. A generalized nonlinear form of the classical Biot’s poroelasticity relation is obtained with additional terms accounting for capillary and swelling stresses. Capillary stress emerges from interaction of fluid phases at different scales, and takes into account the surface tension effects. The swelling part on the other hand, correlates with the net disjoining hydration and electrochemical forces at the nano-scale. As a result, the stress description of clays is embedded with microstructural information. In addition, a robust localization procedure is utilized to track the microstructural changes associated to micro-porosity and clay platelet spacing. The nonlinearity of the stress–strain description is shown to originate from the dependency of the particles’ elasticity on spacing with electrochemical origins. Finally, base-line features of the model are investigated through material point simulations of a clay swelling test. The discrepancies between the model predictions and experimental measurements are resolved in Part II of this paper by considering also the plastic deformations within the framework developed in Part I.

Multi-scale description of hydro-mechanical coupling in swelling clays. Part II: Poroplasticity

This paper presents a micromechanical description of the stress-deformation in partially saturated swelling clays, which accounts for the plastic dissipation induced due to the coupled action of mechanical, swelling and capillary forces that operate at the underlying small scales. This is achieved via a two-stage homogenization procedure based on the average-field theory on a three-dimensional Representative Elementary Volume (REV) of clay which includes clay aggregates and partially saturated inter-aggregate micro-pore space. For the aggregates, which are assumed saturated with an electrolyte solution, the multiscale nonlinear poroelasticity model developed in Part I of this two-part paper is used here, which accounts for swelling forces that develop within the aggregates and span the crystalline and osmotic regimes. The interplay between mechanical, capillary and swelling forces across the material scales leads to the clay aggregates gliding upon each other. The behavior of the interface between adjacent clay aggregates, which describes their sliding, plays a prominent role in the macroscopic behavior of clays. This is manifested in the form of induced plasticity, described here using a simple plasticity law, which is upscaled using principles of continuum micromechanics. This work reconstructs all underlying complex couplings at play to finally arrive at a poroplasticity model at the macroscopic scale, where the macroscopic plastic strain is directly related to sliding action between clay aggregates at the micro-scale. Such a micromechanical description of plasticity in clays is made possible by utilizing the enhanced localization procedure presented in Part I. Finally, the model is shown to be successful in predicting the response of clays in a typical swelling test, when comparing the model predictions against experimental measurements.

Deformation behavior and dynamic recrystallization during hot compression in homogenized Al–6Mg–0.8Mn alloys

In this work, Al6Mn phases with various sizes and morphologies were achieved in homogenized Al–6Mg–0.8Mn alloys. The homogenized alloys were compressed at 450 °C with strain rates of 0.001 s–1 and 1 s–1 to investigate the deformation and recrystallization behaviors induced by Al6Mn phases. The microstructure evolution in the alloys homogenized at 360 °C and 460 °C for 24 h and a two-stage homogenization (TS) was discussed. The results demonstrated that the homogenization had a good effect on improving the segregation of Mg elements and dendritic structures in the alloys. The low homogenization temperature of 360 °C resulted in the generation of a large number of nano-sized Al6Mn phases, which caused a high peak flow stress during hot compression. The Al6Mn phases with a large size were formed due to the inhomogeneous precipitation when the homogenization temperature was 460 °C. The Al6Mn phases with a large volume fraction and a small size in the alloy homogenized at “TS’’ were beneficial for promoting the recrystallization process and inhibiting the growth of recrystallized grains. In addition, in terms of pinning and driving forces for dynamic recrystallization, the role of Al6Mn phases participated in the alloys under different homogenization conditions was analyzed.

Effect of heat treatment and extrusion processing on the microstructure and mechanical properties of spray formed 7055 alloy

The effect of extrusion and heat treatment processes on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the spray formed 7055 alloy were systematically studied by three-dimensional X-ray microscope, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atom probe tomography and tensile testing. It was found that the main second-phases in the as-deposited 7055 alloy include θ (Al2Cu) and Mg(Zn,Al,Cu)2 phases with similar structure to the ƞ (MgZn2) phase dissolved with Al and Cu. The Al2Cu particles embedded in Mg(Zn,Al,Cu)2 phase are widely distributed on the grain boundaries. Compared with the as-cast 7055 alloy, the S (Al2CuMg) phase and T (Al2Mg3Zn3) phases were not detected in the as-deposited alloy due to the change of solidification paths caused by rapid solidification. The microporosity caused by spray forming is always observed in the as-deposited alloy, these micro-pores can be effectively eliminated by the extrusion processing. Meanwhile, compared with extrusion directly after preheating at 420 °C/24 h, additional high temperature two-stage homogenization treatment before extrusion can reduce the adverse effect of S (Al2CuMg) phase and promote the precipitation of high density of Al3Zr dispersoids, which significantly increases the recrystallization resistance and improve the mechanical properties of the alloy.

Quality of Set Yogurts Made from Raw Milk and Processed Milk Supplemented with Enriched Milk Fat Globule Membrane in a Two-Stage Homogenization Process.

Dairy products are relevant in the food industries as functional ingredients for several food products and contribute towards human nutrition in ameliorating certain disorders. In this study, set yogurts were produced from raw milk and processed milk combined with 4% Lacprodan®PL20 concentration and subjected to two-stage pressure homogenization. The total solids concentration of the mixture was raised to 15% using SMP (skim milk powder). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Lacprodan®PL20 on the set yogurt quality produced by homogenization-induced pressure and its interaction with milk components. The changes in the physical and chemical attributes of the milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) via destabilization of the membrane significantly affected the physicochemical properties of set yogurts produced from processed or raw milk. There was a slight variation in MFGM-specific proteins detected in the set yogurts. Set yogurt produced from homogenized raw milk (HRM) had a considerably higher water-holding capacity, firmness, and apparent viscosity. The microstructure of HRM was dense and compacted, unlike non-homogenized raw milk (NRM) with large MFGM fragments and pore holes between the matrixes. The inclusion of homogenization showed a remarkable improvement in set yogurt quality, promoting interaction between MFGM components and milk proteins.

Comparison of microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-Mg-Li-Sc-Zr alloys processed by ingot metallurgy and rapid solidification

The microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of Al-Mg-Li-Sc-Zr alloys fabricated by ingot metallurgy (IM) and gas atomization (GA) with hot isostatic pressing (HIP) were investigated. The results showed that the as-cast alloy exhibits a coarse grain microstructure with large amounts of Al2MgLi and primary Al3(Sc, Zr) particles in the matrix. While a fine and uniformly structured HIPed alloy with a relative density of 99.9% can be obtained at 400 °C for 2 h, and no primary Al3(Sc, Zr) phase nor macro-segregation existed in the HIPed alloy. After a two-stage homogenization treatment, the Al3Li, Al2MgLi, and AlLi phases dissolved into the matrix, and simultaneously dense Al3(Sc, Zr) dispersoids precipitated in the two alloys. The number fraction of the Al3(Sc, Zr) phase in the HIPed alloy was much higher than that in the as-cast alloy. An excellent ultimate tensile strength of 352 MPa was obtained for the HIPed alloy, an increase of approximately 14% compared with the as-cast alloy. The increased strength in the HIPed alloy is mainly attributed to grain boundaries, precipitation, and solid-solution strengthening mechanisms.

Microstructure Evolution of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu Alloy with Erbium during Homogenization

The microstructure evolution of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy with erbium was studied by optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) during homogenization process. The results showed that there were serious component segregation in the as-cast structure of the alloy, mainly composed of T(AlZnMgCu) , S(Al2CuMg) and a small amount of Al8Cu4Er and Al7Cu2Fe. The overheating temperature of the alloy was 482.5 °C. After homogenized at 470 °C for 24 h, the dissolution of T(AlZnMgCu) phase and S(Al2CuMg) phase reached to a balance, but the residual Al8Cu4Er phase could not be dissolved completely. Compared with single-stage homogenization, Al3(Er,Zr) dispersion phase with smaller grain size and more uniform distribution can be obtained after two stage homogenization process of 400 °C for 8 h followed by 470 °C for 24 h. By comparing the residue of non-equilibrium eutectic phase, two-stage homogenization is the best.

Two-stage homogenization of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Zr alloy processed by twin-roll casting to improve L12 Al3Zr precipitation, recrystallization resistance, and performance

In this study, an Al-5.5Zn-2.2Mg-1.2Cu-0.12Zr (wt%) alloy with a high dislocation density was successfully fabricated by twin-roll casting (TRC). The effects of two-stage homogenization processes on the precipitation behavior of the L12-structured Al3Zr phase and recrystallization in this Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Zr alloy were investigated. Furthermore, the influences of the Al3Zr and recrystallization levels on the mechanical properties and intergranular corrosion (IGC) resistance were evaluated. Based on the obtained results, compared to conventional single-stage homogenization, the two-stage homogenization significantly enhanced the precipitation of Al3Zr due to the higher driving force and greater number of heterogeneous nucleation sites provided for the precipitation in the first stage. Therefore, the number density and volume fraction of Al3Zr increased significantly. Additionally, the holding times at the different stages affected the precipitation of Al3Zr. As the first-stage time increased, the number density and volume fraction of Al3Zr increased and then decreased, which was caused by the evolution of heterogeneous nucleation sites (T phase). As the second-stage time increased, the nucleation, growth, and Ostwald ripening of Al3Zr occurred. Variations of the fv/r ratio of the Al3Zr phase led to different recrystallization resistances during the solution treatment. Therefore, partially recrystallized microstructures were achieved in the two-stage homogenized alloys after the T6 treatments. These microstructures and the corresponding distributions of Al3Zr slightly affected the mechanical properties, while they significantly improved the IGC resistance.

Hydrodynamic cavitation: Process opportunities for ice-cream formulations

We report the viability of hydrodynamic cavitation (HC, 2400–3600 RPM/100–200 L h−1) to manufacture ice-cream with reduced stabilizer. The study was carried out at a pilot-scale level and consisted of determining the impact on particle size and rheological behavior of ice-cream mixes (ICM) and evaluating the resulting melting and meltdown behavior of ice-cream. Ice-cream manufactured with two-stage homogenization (2500/500 psi) was used as a control treatment. Overall, HC resulted in a larger mean particle size than the control mixes (3.52 ± 0.28 and 0.34 ± 0.02 μm, respectively). Additionally, HC (3600 RPM/100 L h−1) changed the flow behavior of ICM from viscoelastic solid to viscoelastic liquid. Cavitated mixes resulted in a 2.2-fold viscosity increment within the high spectrum of shear rate (30–50 s−1) compared with the control mixes. These modifications altered the melting and meltdown characteristics of the resulting ice-cream. The analysis of the particle size and gross microstructure of dripped melted ice-creams suggested a significant collapse of the ice-cream structure, allowing clumps of fat to migrate into the melted phase. This study showed that HC might have the potential to develop novel structures for frozen desserts.

The Effects of Multi-Stage Homogenizations on the Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Al–Zn–Mg–Zr–Sc Alloys

This study is aimed at exploring the effects of multi-stage homogenization and trace amounts of Zr and Sc on the microstructures, mechanical properties, and recrystallization of Al–4.5Zn–1.5Mg alloys. The mechanical properties of the AA7005 aluminum alloys after the T6 heat treatment were evaluated through a hardness test and tensile test. The microstructures were analyzed by an optical microscope (OM), a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), a transmission electron microscope (TEM), a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD). The results show that the grain refinement effect of the as-cast, homogenized, and recrystallized Al–4.5Zn–1.5Mg alloy containing 0.05Sc (wt%) after the T6 heat treatment was more significant than that of the alloy containing 0.1Zr (wt%). In addition, compared with the aforementioned one-stage homogenization heat treatment, the two-stage homogenization made the dispersed grain phase (Al3Zr/Al3Sc) smaller. As a result, the T6 mechanical strength of the alloy after the two-stage homogenization heat treatment was better than that of the contrastive alloy after the one-stage homogenization heat treatment. However, the two different homogenization heat treatments caused a greater divergence between the sizes of the dispersed grain phases of the Al–4.5Zn–1.5Mg alloys containing Zr than between the sizes of the dispersed grain phases of the alloys containing Sc. Therefore, after the two-stage homogenization heat treatment, the alloy with 0.1Zr (wt%) promoted the mechanical properties better than the alloy with 0.05Sc (wt%).

Влияние микролегирования Er и Zr на формирование микроструктуры при гомогенизации алюминиевого сплава 7075

The effect of microadditions of Er and Zr on the changes in the structure of aluminum alloy 7075 under homogenization is studied. The additions of Er and Zr cause grain refinement and lower the size of the coarse nonequilibrium grain-boundary eutectic. The eutectic dissolves completely in the homogenization process; the long rods transform into spherical particles. The mode of the homogenization affects substantially the precipitation of the secondary Al 3 (Er, Zr) phase. Two-stage homogenization (400°C, 12 h + 465°C, 12 h) yields fine and uniformly distributed particles of Al 3 (Er, Zr) with a mean radius of 28.9 nm and a volume fraction of 1.3 × 10 - 3 .

Tests of a two-stage vortex device for homogenization of milk

The subject of the study is milk homogenization process in the original design two-stage vortex device consisting of two vortex tubes connected with each other in series at a right-angle. The aim of this work is to optimize the operational and geometrical parameters of the vortex tubes relative location, with tubes forming the homogenizing device. Experimental study of the vortex devices was conducted on the basis of an OGZM-1.6 plunger pump with a capacity of 1.6 m3/h, using a milk with fat content of 2.5% at a temperature of 60°C. To assess the quality of the homogenization process, the microscopic examination method was used employing BIOLAR high-resolution microscope with immersion lens (1000 x magnification). Process quality was assessed according to the average size of milk fat globules. Experimental studies have shown that the best result for two-stage homogenization is achieved with the installation of the second vortex tube at an angle of 20° to the horizon with the differential pressure of the first stage 14 MPa and in the second stage – 3 MPa.