Why RAM Is The Ultimate Low Shear Mixer for Sensitive Materials
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. RAM mixers are bladeless non-contact mixers. It does not damage sensitive and expensive materials like most traditional mixers will.
Here’s why RAM is considered the #1 low shear mixer by many of the world’s finest process engineers:
1. No Direct Contact or Blades – Bladeless Non-Contact Mixing
- RAM uses low-frequency, high-intensity acoustic energy to move materials inside a sealed container.
- There’s no rotating shaft, blades or impeller touching the material, so there’s no localized force causing shear.
2. Whole-Container Batch Mixing (see illustration)
- The entire container vibrates in resonance, causing the contents to move and mix through internal particle-particle motion.
- This motion is bulk and uniform, not localized, so it doesn’t produce the intense shear zones found in traditional mixers.
- RAM mixes everywhere all at once.
3. Gentle on Sensitive Material
- RAM is ideal for shear-sensitive materials like biological compounds, polymers, or fragile composites.
- It mixes thoroughly without degrading structures (e.g., cells, capsules, gels, or fibers) that would otherwise be damaged by high-shear forces.
4. Low Shear Energy Transfer
- The energy input is mechanical and volumetric—transmitted through resonance, not friction.
- This results in efficient mixing without generating high heat or mechanical stress, typical byproducts of shear which also damages materials.
5. No Shear Damage to Expensive and Sensitive Materials
- 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.
