Mixers, blenders, agglomerators and dryers

Mixers, blenders, agglomerators and dryers

The terms ‘mixing’ and ‘blending’ are often used interchangeably, but technically they are slightly different. Blending is the homogenous distribution of differing materials and is usually a relatively gentle process. It is the process of solid-solid mixing or the mixing of bulk solids with small quantities of liquid. Mixing is usually a more aggressive process involving the combining of material through the beating or stirring of the contents within a static vessel. Agglomeration is the creation of granules from powders through the addition of liquids. Drying is the removal of moisture from wet materials through evaporation by heat. Some mixers can operate as agglomerators or dryers too.