Learn about common phrases and definitions for high-quality laboratory equipment from the BYK-Gardner Dispersion Team in our Dispersion Glossary.
A
Additive: Substance added to a coating system to improve performance; examples include chemicals used for wetting, deflocculation and stabilization.
Agglomerates: Particles loosely clustered together which is usually reversible.
Aggregates: Clustered particles more tightly bound together that is often not reversible.
B
Basket Mill: Features a rotating basket to accelerate the grinding media via centrifugal force; there is also a grinding disc and the basket contains grinding beads to assist in the dispersion process.
Bead Mill: Dispersion is by pumping the fluid into a rotating chamber that contains grinding beads; the fluid can be recirculated for additional dispersion if needed.
Binder: Substance that acts as a cohesive element
D
Deflocculation: Reversing the coagulation of particles
Dissolver Disc: The rotational device in a high-speed disperser that agitates the mixture to evenly disperse all components.
Dispersion: Substances mixed and distributed evenly within another medium.
Dispersion Doughnut: The laminar rolling flow pattern that is observed when the dispersion speed is optimized so that there is no standing material on the container wall and a channel forms around the shaft exposing part of the dissolver disc.
Dye: A natural or synthetic substance used to change or add color to something; usually not UV stable.
E
Emulsion: A dispersion of one liquid into another in which it is not dissolvable or miscible.
F
Flocculation: When fine particulates clump together into a “floc” which either floats to the top or sinks to the bottom of the liquid.
G
Grind Gage: An instrument that measures the fineness of grind or presence of coarse particles or agglomerates in a dispersion.
H
High-Speed Disperser: Instrument where a disc type blade is mounted on a shaft and rotates at high speed to grind and mix ingredients to obtain an even distribution.
Homogenizer: Machine used to mix two non-soluble liquids together so that the resulting single liquid is the same throughout.
I
Inorganic Pigments: Composed of mineral compounds such as oxides and sulphides
M
Millbase: A colored paint that contains a high amount of pigment used to tint or make paint.
N
Newtonian fluid: Viscosity remains the same regardless of shear or force.
Non-Newtonian fluid: Viscosity changes as shear or force is applied.
O
Organic Pigments: Carbon-based pigments that can contain metallic (inorganic) compounds for stability.
P
Pigment: Inorganic or organic substance used to impart or change color; usually UV stable.
S
Stabilization: Achieved by adding the proper dispersing additive to prevent particles from clumping together causing flocculation.
V
Viscosity: The resistance of fluid to flow; generally, the lower the viscosity, the easier it flows.
W
Wetting: The ability of a liquid to maintain contact with a solid surface when the two interact; wetting additives are used to facilitate this process.
