Resonant Acoustic Mixing (RAM) is considered low shear mixing because it mixes materials through resonant vibration energy rather than using blades, paddles, or other high-shear mechanical impellers. If does not damage sensitive and expensive materials like most traditional mixers will. RAM is the mixer you need for sensitive and expensive materials, no question!
Here’s 4 Reasons why RAM is considered a low shear mixer:
1. No Direct Contact or Blades
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RAM uses low-frequency, high-intensity acoustic energy to move materials inside a sealed container.
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There’s no rotating shaft or impeller touching the material, so there’s no localized force causing shear.
2. Whole-container Mixing
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The entire container vibrates in resonance, causing the contents to move and mix through internal particle-particle motion.
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This motion is bulk and uniform, not localized, so it doesn’t produce the intense shear zones found in traditional mixers.
3. Gentle on Sensitive Materials
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RAM is ideal for shear-sensitive materials like biological compounds, polymers, or fragile composites.
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It mixes thoroughly without degrading structures (e.g., cells, capsules, gels, or fibers) that would otherwise be damaged by high-shear forces.
4. Shear-Free Energy Transfer
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The energy input is mechanical and volumetric—transmitted through resonance, not friction.
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This results in efficient mixing without generating high heat or mechanical stress, typical byproducts of shear.
No Shear Damage
- Traditional mixing methods (e.g., blade mixers) can degrade sensitive particles or binders (e.g., PVDF).
- RAM is gentler and non-destructive, preserving particle integrity and preventing unwanted agglomeration or morphology changes.
