What types of mixers are used for battery electrodes?

Different chemistries and scales require specific mixing mechanisms:

• Planetary mixers: The industry standard for high-viscosity pastes. They use blades that rotate on their own axes while orbiting a central point.
• High-shear dispersers: Used to break down tough agglomerates of carbon black and ensure fine dispersion.
• Continuous twin-screw extruders: A modern shift for massive gigafactories. They process materials continuously rather than in batches, saving space and energy.
• Vacuum mixers: Essential for “degassing,” or removing, tiny air bubbles that would otherwise create “craters” in the electrode coating.