ELECTROSTATIC POWDER MIXING DEVICE.

Powder mixing seems like an aspect of processing that has a well developed technology, since a variety of powders must be mixed prior to or during processing. However, there are some things that conventional mixers simply cannot do. Based on a rational examination of mixing, a new device for powder mixing was conceived, built, and successfully tested. This device produces better mixtures than any conventional device by utilizing electrostatic forces. This paper describes the device and presents an analysis which describes the mechanics of the mixing behavior. A model of electrostatic mixing has been developed which provides a good estimate of mixing behavior as a function of time, and exact correlation is expected with more uniform particle charging. The mixing device has low power consumption, no moving parts, no problem with heating the mix components, and provides better mixing than any conventional device.