High Shear Impellers
High Shear Impellers, part of Blade Depot®, a division of Norstone, Inc., are saw tooth impeller blades built for high shear dispersion. The flat disc and perimeter tooth design generates shear at the blade edge, breaking down solids and dispersing them into a liquid carrier. High Shear Impellers operate across a range of viscosities and are commonly specified for high speed dispersion work in batch mixing systems, distinguishing them from lower shear styles such as High Vane Impellers and Propeller Blades within the Blade Depot® line.
Characteristics
High Shear Impellers are defined by the following properties:
- Saw tooth disc design. A flat profile disc with teeth positioned around the perimeter generates shear at the blade edge as the batch passes through.
- High speed operating range. High Shear Impellers are built for high speed operation, suited to both low viscosity and high viscosity materials, with performance tapering at the extremes of that range.
- Turbulent flow generation. The tooth pattern produces turbulent flow across the batch, supporting dispersion of pigments, fillers, and resins into a liquid system.
- Diameter availability. High Shear Impellers are available in a range of diameters to match tank size and batch volume.
- Material options. The blades are offered in standard and custom material options for compatibility with the process fluid.
Because High Shear Impellers are generally selected for high shear dispersion rather than pumping and circulation, they should be compared against Propeller Blades where circulation is the primary process requirement.
When High Shear Impellers Are Typically Selected
High Shear Impellers are generally chosen for dispersing pigments, fillers, and resins into liquid systems, and for breaking down agglomerates to produce fine particle dispersions. Compared to High Vane Impellers, which are built for minimal shear applications such as clay processing, High Shear Impellers are selected when high shear dispersion is the process requirement. Compared to Polyblade®, a polymer alternative built to reduce metal contamination, High Shear Impellers are selected when maximum shear performance takes priority over contamination control.
Applications
High Shear Impellers support dispersion applications across the following use cases:
- Dispersing pigments, fillers, and resins into liquid systems for coatings and inks
- Breaking down agglomerates and producing fine particle dispersions
- Batch mixing operations requiring high shear dispersion, including food and emulsion applications
- General-purpose dispersion work across a range of solids loading and viscosities
Related Products
High Shear Impellers are one of seven product lines under Blade Depot®. For a low shear alternative suited to clay processing, see High Vane Impellers. For pumping and circulation rather than dispersion, see Propeller Blades. For a polymer alternative built to reduce metal contamination, see Polyblade®.