[Cetar]

Better to stick to AMP for neutralization at that alcohol volume, TEA for carbomer only works in formulas up to 60% alcohol.

[Cetar]

nielrobertlim said:

@Cetar Is that mixer under vacuum or not? I am just curious

@Cetar I have seen that lmachine design exactly from a Chinese supplier that I am talking with for several days. Is that supplier from Guangzhou?

@nielrobertlim No, this model is not under vacuum, and yes this supplier is from Guangzhou, but names in PM or else their lead times may increase for both of us LOL.

em88 said:

That is a weird position for the homogenizer. 
The homogenizer does not create a vortex. The fluid flow is perpendicular to the surface. It is very easy to work with carbomer. The homogenizer (if it has enough power) should be able to disperse carbomer in the fluid mass, while the mixing paddle should mix carbomer with the neutralizer and form the gel. You will not need the homogenizer during this phase.  

@em88 Ok that is very helpful, so the carbomer can be dispersed in the water before neutralization, and the paddle can be used during the thickening/neutralization stage. If the carbomer is dispersed with the homogenizer at <1200rpm, wouldn’t the lack of vortex cause all the carbomer to float at the top, stay there, and inevitably lead to unmixed pockets of product (“fish eyes”)?

Medgar said:

If the Carbomer is homogenized to disperse it in the water, the final Carbopol gel loses viscosity.

If the carbomer is left to humidify for 12 hours and homogenizes after the Gel is formed, this gel also loses viscosity.

In other words, a carbopol gel should not be homogenized, since neither controlled homogenizations, graduating its time and speed, will in any way affect its viscosity to any degree.

@Medgar At what RPM setting did you come to this result, if you only disperse the carbomer without neutralizing it? Remember the mixer has a homogenizer but since it is adjustable I won’t use it at a high setting, I plan to use it only within the recommended RPM for dispersion <1200rpm.

Belassi said:

Just use the paddle blade. Provided you give it enough time, 940 is no problem, but I must admit I wish I could get Ultrez 21.

@Belassi At 65RPM how long do you think it would it take me for all that 940 to be fully dispersed and hydrated? The paddle alone may be too slow.