Colloid mill
A colloid mill is a machine that is used to reduce the particle size of a solid in suspension in a liquid, or to reduce the droplet size in emulsions. Colloid mills work on the rotor-stator principle: a rotor turns at high speeds (2000 - 18000 RPM[1]). A high level of hydraulic shear[clarify] stress is applied on the fluid which results in disrupting and breaking down the structure. Colloid mills are frequently used to increase the stability of suspensions and emulsions, but can also be used to reduce the particle size of solids in suspensions[1]. Higher shear rates lead to smaller droplets, down to approximately 1 μm[2] which are more resistant to emulsion separation.
Colloid mills are used in the following industries:
References
- ^ a b c David B. Troy, ed. (2005). Remington : The science and practice of pharmacy (21st ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins. p. 764. ISBN 9780781746731. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
- ^ a b McClements, David Julian (1999). Food emulsions : principles, practice, and techniques (2nd ed.). Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press. p. 172. ISBN 9780849380082.
- ^ André O. Barel; Marc Paye; Howard I. Maibach, eds. (2001). Handbook of Cosmetic Science and Technology. Hoboken: Informa Healthcare. p. 663. ISBN 9780824741396. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
See also
 | This technology-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |