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It is a sealed, stainless steel chamber that uses a combination of a planetary mixer and a vacuum pump to remove air bubbles (foam, entrapped air) from viscous materials like resins, silicones, epoxies, and electronic pastes. The "oil-free" specification refers to the type of vacuum pump used, which is critical for keeping the process clean.
Loading: The material to be processed (e.g., liquid silicone with trapped air) is placed inside the 15L stainless steel bucket.
Sealing: The lid is closed, creating an airtight seal.
Vacuum Drawing: An oil-free vacuum pump evacuates the air from the chamber, dramatically lowering the internal pressure. This causes existing bubbles to expand, making them easier to break and draw out of the material.
Mixing & Defoaming: Simultaneously, a planetary mixer (with blades that rotate on their own axis while also revolving around the center of the container) kneads and spreads the material. This action exposes fresh material to the vacuum and mechanically shears bubbles.
Release: After a set cycle (e.g., 5-10 minutes), the vacuum is slowly released, and the resulting bubble-free material can be removed.
Dual Action Defoaming: Vacuum + Mechanical Mixing. This combination is vastly more effective than either method alone for removing micro-bubbles from thick, viscous products.
Oil-Free Vacuum Pump: This is a critical feature. A standard oil-lubricated vacuum pump can backstream oil vapor into the chamber, contaminating the product. An oil-free (or "dry") pump ensures a completely clean processing environment.
Material: 304 or 316 Stainless Steel: Offers excellent corrosion resistance, is non-reactive, and is easy to clean and sterilize. 316 is preferred for more corrosive chemicals.
Capacity: 15 Liters: A practical size for small to medium-batch production, pilot plants, and R&D labs. It's large enough for meaningful output but doesn't take up excessive floor space.
Precision Control: Typically includes controls for:
Vacuum level (often down to very low pressures, e.g., -0.1 MPa).
Mixing speed (RPM) for the planetary agitator.
Timer for automated cycle control.
Transparent Lid: Often features a thick, durable sight glass to observe the defoaming process without breaking the vacuum.
This machine is essential in industries where tiny bubbles can ruin a product or its performance:
Electronics & PCB Manufacturing: Defoaming conductive pastes, silver epoxies, solder masks, and potting compounds. Bubbles can cause short circuits or failures.
Advanced Composites & Resins: Preparing epoxy, polyurethane, and silicone resins for casting, molding, and encapsulation without flaws.
Photovoltaics (Solar Cells): Manufacturing solar panel coatings and adhesives.
Medical Device Manufacturing: Producing bubble-free silicones and polymers for implants and seals.
Research & Development: Any lab working with viscous liquids where material properties are affected by entrapped air.
Using an oil-free vacuum pump eliminates the risk of hydrocarbon contamination. For industries like electronics, medical, and optics, even trace amounts of oil can degrade product performance, cause adhesion failures, or lead to rejection. It's a requirement for cleanroom environments.