Rehabilitation of Vacuumed Planetary Mixer
MCOR products provide an array of solutions for various machines and heavy equipment. Machine breakdowns, a common occurrence in any manufacturing facility, can be costly and time consuming, often leading to the need to replace parts or even the entire machine. This can be avoided with the use of MCOR cold-repair products. The solutions are simple as well as time- and cost-effective.
The Problem
A vacuum seal is imperative to the functionality of a vacuumed planetary mixer to properly maintain the integrity of the products being combined. Over time, the vacuum of this mixer at an epoxy manufacturing facility (right) had been compromised; it showed a 5 out of 30 on the Hg vacuum indicator, which is extremely low. The gasket seal had broken, and therefore needed to be repaired or replaced. Replacing this part would require shutting down of the machine and disrupting production while waiting for the part to be ordered, received, and installed, resulting in lost time this manufacturing facility could not afford. Instead, MCOR 4170 | mFlex MD Vertical Elastomer cold-repair compound was chosen as an alternative solution.
Solutions that Work
MCOR 4170 was an ideal solution for this repair due to its vertical and overhead sealing capability. In addition, its flexible adhesion, anti-vibration and shock mitigation provided the elements necessary for this specific machine repair. MCOR 4170 is easy to apply, making it an excellent choice for a do-it-yourself, in-house application.
MCOR 4170 is a medium durometer, 100% solids, flexible paste-grade urethane-acrylate epoxy hybrid sealant with zero-isocyanate.
Surface Preparation
The surface was prepared by removing the existing seal from the rim of the hydraulic lift using a handheld blade. Emery sand-paper was used to remove any remaining debris. Using a scale, the two-component paste-grade polymer was then mixed to a 3:1 ratio by weight.
No Nonsense Applications
A handheld spatula was used to evenly apply the coating to the metal rim of the mixer at a 1” thickness. No sagging or dripping occurred since the product is designed to hang overhead, making it easy to apply. A mold-release agent was applied to the ring of the stationary bowl below. The hydraulic mixer containing the applied coating was then lowered to meet the bowl and create a mold. MCOR 4170 was left to cure overnight, (approximately 24 hours).
A Final Look
The next day, the vacuum mixer was lifted. The desired coating ring adhered to the top portion of the mixer because the release agent had kept the coating from sealing to the ring of the bowl. The vacuum of the planetary mixer was tested, and the Hg vacuum indicator revealed a score of 20 out of 30, demonstrating its success in maintaining the mixers vacuum. The machine was put back in service and what could have been a costly shut-down for this epoxy manufacturing plant was avoided.
PROJECT: Rehabilitation of a Vacuumed Planetary Mixer
OWNER: Epoxy Manufacturing Facility in Florida
DATE: January 2018
PRODUCTS: MCOR 4170 | mFlex MD Vertical Elastomer
