Concentrated suspension and slurry: measurement, understanding, industrialization

Concentrated suspensions include a wide variety of systems where a dispersed solid phase occupies a significant portion of the volume, giving the product unique behavior. Depending on the nature of the particles, the carrier liquid, and the formulation conditions, these systems can exhibit extremely rich mechanical, rheological, thermal, and physicochemical properties that are often difficult to control.

Present in the food industry, cosmetics, coatings, pharmaceuticals and even construction materials, concentrated suspensions are at the heart of many industrial processes.

Applications of concentrated suspensions

Concentrated suspensions are used in various products and processes, for example:

• Food : pasta, sauces, chocolate preparations, enriched drinks.

• Cosmetics and hygiene : scrubs, toothpastes, masks, foundations.

• Pharmacy and health : injectable formulations, oral suspensions, medical devices.

• Materials and Chemistry : paints, inks, drilling muds, ceramics, concrete and mortars.

The behavior of these suspensions can vary greatly: sedimentation, compaction, thixotropy, clogging effect, flow instabilities.

Our services for concentrated suspension

Rheonis supports manufacturers in understanding and optimizing concentrated suspensions, by mobilizing unique know-how:

Measurement and characterization of concentrated suspension and slurry

Rheology, stability, particle size, surface properties.

Formulation and development of concentrated suspension and slurry

Adjustment of solid/liquid ratios, choice of additives, optimization of dispersibility.

Industrialization and processes for concentrated suspension and slurry

Mixing, transporting, pumping, coating, applying.

Diagnosis and problem solving of concentrated suspension and slurry

Instabilities, production variability, usage defects.

innovation

Development of new formulations and processes integrating high added value suspensions.

Measurement and characterization of concentrated suspension and slurry

Rheonis develops and adapts specific measurement protocols for concentrated suspensions, to respond to the diversity of their behavior:

• Rheology and viscoelasticity : measurement of flow properties, thixotropic behavior, gelation.

• Granulometry and particle size distribution : monitoring of dispersion and agglomeration phenomena.

• Stability and sedimentation : decantation kinetics, phase separation.

• Particle/liquid interaction : effect of solid charges, interparticle forces, colloidal stability.

• Real-world performance : pumping, mixing, shaping and applying.

These measurements allow for a better understanding of the relationship between formulation, processes and final properties, and to effectively guide development or industrialization.

Useful links

• Slurry (Wikipedia)
• Case study: R&D study of stirring/mixing conditions of a concentrated suspension

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