IKA Silentstream flow breaker for dispersers, minimises air ingress, 0003754000

Perfect emulsions without unwanted air entrapment: the IKA Silentstream flow breaker

In demanding product development, cosmetic formulation, food technology and chemical synthesis, high-performance dispersion is one of the most important, yet physically demanding, methods of sample preparation. When a dispersing tool based on the rotor-stator principle operates in an open beaker or reactor at speeds of 10,000 to 25,000 revolutions per minute, it not only generates enormous shear forces to break down the particles. At the same time, a massive rotational flow is generated within the liquid. This flow inevitably leads to the formation of a deep, crater-shaped vortex – known as a ‘trombe’. This vortex often extends right down to the stator’s suction ports. The disastrous consequence is that the disperser continuously draws in massive quantities of ambient air into the liquid medium. It is precisely to address this serious process-related problem that IKA has developed the innovative Silentstream accessory (MPN 0003754000). This intelligent flow baffle is the ultimate solution for reducing air ingress to an absolute minimum and significantly improving the quality of your dispersions.

The negative consequences of air entrapment in everyday laboratory work

Why is air in a dispersed sample so extremely harmful? The unwanted introduction of air caused by vortex formation leads to three major problems in everyday laboratory work: Firstly, the entrained air leads to excessive foaming. Highly foaming samples (such as protein-containing solutions or surfactant-containing shampoos) overflow from the beaker, contaminate the workstation and result in the loss of valuable sample material. Secondly, microscopic air bubbles ruin the physical stability and texture of fine emulsions. A high-quality cosmetic cream or pharmaceutical ointment produced with air entrapments looks unattractive, feels dull on the skin and is prone to rapid phase separation (coalescence). Thirdly – and this is the most critical point for analytical purposes – constant contact with atmospheric oxygen at extreme shear rates leads to massive oxidation. Ingredients susceptible to oxidation, such as valuable vitamins, highly sensitive active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) or unsaturated fatty acids in food samples, are inevitably destroyed by this process, which completely skews the subsequent analysis.

The physical solution: the flow breaker principle

The IKA Silentstream tackles the physical cause of this problem head-on. The ring-shaped component is simply slid from below over the shaft of the dispersing tool (for example, the T 25 series) and positioned within the liquid medium. Thanks to its specially calculated, asymmetrical geometry, the Silentstream acts as a highly effective flow disruptor (flow disruptor). It disrupts the uniform rotational movement of the liquid generated by the rapidly rotating rotor. The liquid is slowed down by the Silentstream and redirected into a chaotic, predominantly axial flow. The result is absolutely astonishing: The rotation of the liquid as a whole virtually comes to a standstill, the surface of the medium settles instantly and the deep, air-sucking vortex disappears completely. The disperser can continue to operate at maximum speed and with full grinding capacity, but now draws in only pure liquid instead of a destructive air-liquid mixture.

Time savings and cost-effectiveness (TCO) in production

In addition to the dramatic improvement in the quality of your end products, using the IKA Silentstream offers an invaluable economic advantage. If you have previously had to disperse highly foaming samples, you will be familiar with the problem of extremely long waiting times: you had to switch off the disperser after just a few seconds and wait for the voluminous foam to settle before you could continue the process. Alternatively, you had to add expensive chemical defoamers (antifoam agents), which distorted the chemical composition of your pure sample. With the Silentstream, these forced pauses are completely eliminated. You can complete the dispersion process in a single, continuous and rapid run. This drastically reduces process times in your laboratory, increases daily sample throughput and significantly lowers the laboratory’s total cost of ownership for sample preparation.

Occupational health and safety and seamless system integration

A further positive side-effect of the stabilised liquid surface is the substantial improvement in occupational health and safety. As the strong vortex and chaotic wave formation against the vessel wall are suppressed, the splashing of potentially hazardous, hot or toxic sample liquids from the open beaker is extremely effectively prevented. The fume cupboard remains clean, and staff are protected. The Silentstream is manufactured from high-quality, chemical-resistant materials that can easily withstand the common solvents, acids and alkalis encountered in everyday laboratory work. Thanks to its flow-optimised design, it can be cleaned very easily and thoroughly after use, leaving no residue; this prevents dangerous cross-contamination between different sample batches and ensures compliance with strict GLP guidelines. Invest in this unassuming yet technologically outstanding accessory to realise the full potential of your IKA disperser and produce flawless, air-free and highly stable dispersions.

Technical data

• Function: Flow breaker / flow stabiliser (baffle)
• Mode of action: Prevents vortex formation and the ingestion of air
• Analytical benefit: Prevents oxidation of sensitive active ingredients and foam formation
• Quality benefit: Produces homogeneous, air-bubble-free emulsions and suspensions
• Health and safety benefit: Prevents the medium from being ejected at high speeds
• Compatibility: Designed for mounting on the shaft of IKA dispersing tools (ideally for standard tool diameters of the T 25 series)
• Handling: Can be slid onto the tool shaft without tools
• Cleaning: Easy-to-clean, chemical-resistant surfaces

Contents

• 1 x IKA Silentstream flow breaker

(Important note: The essential IKA drive motor, as well as the dispersing tool and stand system, are available separately and are expressly not included in this scope of delivery.)

Individual requirements & accessories

To make the best use of this accessory, you will need a powerful drive such as the IKA T 25 digital or T 25 easy clean control, as well as the appropriate dispersing tool (e.g. from the S 25 N series). If, despite the Silentstream, you are working with extremely volatile solvents that must not be allowed to escape into the ambient air, we recommend switching to fully vacuum-tight reactor systems with the corresponding KD dispersing tools. Our experienced procurement service will be happy to advise you on selecting the ideal tool sizes and establishing optimal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for your foam-free sample preparation.