Ultrasound Reactor for Paint Dispersion

Most engineers are familiar with ultrasonic energies being used for cleaning parts, welding plastics, or perhaps even for performing medical examinations. Produced by transducing piezoelectric-generated vibrations, ultrasonic energy applications include the production of emulsions and dispersions. Applied in the laboratory to make small quantities, use in paint systems has been investigated over the years. Scale-up efforts have proven to be very costly in capital investment and in power demands. Mechanical generation as compared to transduced electronic systems has changed all that, proving to be very efficient.

One of these methods provides a means for material to be in direct contact with high-energy cavatational forces. It does not involve high electrical energy or a complicated generating mechanism. This method provides a means for high-intensity processing of very large amounts of materials economically by a direct translation of kinetic energy produced in a pump into cavatational energy ultrasonically produced. Created in tandem along with high-pressure homogenization, this system provides complete and instantaneous emulsions and dispersions, perfect for those applications requiring high-intensity mixing.

Appropriate for both liquid-liquid applications and liquid-solid (emulsions), the material is pumped through a specially shaped orifice at high velocity of 300 feet per second or more, forming a flat stream. The jet of material then impinges on a knife-like blade, which creates waves or vortices of ultrasonic energy running perpendicular to the flow. The pressure drop created by the orifice and the ultrasonic cavatational forces combine to create a high-energy mixing effect. Pressures starting at 200 psi to as high as 5000 psi with flow rates up to 250 gal/min or greater are possible.

Parameter

Advantage of Ultrasonic Paint Dispersion

1. Improve color strength of paints

2. Improve surface finish and durability of paints and coatings

3. Impart scratch resistance and UV resistance in coatings

4. Improved product quality

5. Improved tinting strength and printing in ink production

6. High stable emulsion production

7. Increased reaction speed

8. Improved energy efficiency

9. Solid and metallic activation

10. Increased reactivity of catalysts

11. Improved particle synthesis