Solid Propellants Sugar Paste Kneader

Solid Propellants Sugar Paste Kneader

A Solid Propellants Sugar Paste Kneader refers to specialized industrial mixing equipment used to prepare viscous “sugar pastes” in the production of certain solid rocket propellants. These pastes are typically composite mixtures involving sugars as fuel/binder combined with oxidizers and other additives, forming a thick, dough-like slurry that is kneaded for uniform consistency before casting into rocket motor grains.

Solid Propellants Sugar Paste Kneader Video

Professional/Industrial Applications

In professional solid propellant manufacturing (e.g., for rockets, missiles, or explosives), kneaders handle high-viscosity, sensitive materials safely. Key types include:

  • Vertical Kneaders (or Double Planetary Vertical Kneaders): Explosion-proof designs ideal for mixing oxidizers, aluminum powder, and polymer binders into uniform slurries. They minimize friction/sparks to prevent ignition and often feature vacuum capabilities, temperature control, and shearing blades for thorough dispersion.

  • Sigma Blade Kneaders (Double Arm or Z-Blade Mixers): Heavy-duty horizontal mixers with counter-rotating blades that knead stiff pastes like sugar-based or composite propellants. Commonly used for “sugar pastes” in explosives and propellants due to excellent shearing and folding action.

These machines ensure homogeneous mixing without dead zones, critical for propellant performance and safety.

Salient Features of Sigma Mixer Machine

  • Available in Stainless Steel 316, Stainless Steel 304 and Mild Steel materials.

  • Stainless Steel polish to matt & mirror finish as per customer’s requirements.

  • Mild Steel finish with one coat of red oxide and two coats of epoxy paint.

  • Discharge option of hand wheel operated (manual) or hydraulic operated (automatic) offered.

  • Jacket for heating or cooling application can be offered.

  • Mineral wool insulation with cladding on jacket.

  • Tangential designed ‘Z’ blades offered for uniform mixing.

  • PTFE made shaft sealing provided for food grade compatibility.

  • Minimum gap between trough inner shell & blades removes possibility of sticking product.

  • On demand Spray system, vacuum system

Optional Features/Accessories of Sigma Mixer

  • Liquid Spray System

  • Vacuum System

  • Blades Cooling Arrangement

  • Screw System

  • Automatic Valve Discharge System

Process Operation of Solid Propellants Sugar Paste Kneader

In Sigma mixer tangential action of mixing and kneading obtained by ‘Z’ type (SIGMA) shaped kneading blades, which rotates very accurately at different speed towards each other causing product to be transferred from one end to another end. Discharge of the finished product is achieved by tilting the container or through the valves at the bottom or by means of an extrusion screw beside the container.

The mixing action is a combination of bulk movement, stretching, folding, dividing, and recombining of the material. The shearing & tearing action of the material against blades and the side walls causes size reduction of the solids. After the time period required for sterilizing the batch has elapsed, the heating circuit shuts of the pneumatics damper (exhaust) opens and cooling operation commences.

In the tangential design, the blades rotate in the trough meeting tangentially. The front blade generally rotates faster than the rear blade usually in the ratio of 3:2. Tangential blades are generally used for material of higher viscosities such as adhesives, rubber compounds, flush colors, dyes, and pigments.

In the overlapping design, the blades overlap above the saddle of the container. Due to the overlapping action, it is necessary that the relative position of the two blades is unchanged, and as a result, both the blades rotate at the same speed. Materials that flow freely or creep down into the blades are mixed using the overlapping blade action. This design offers a faster interchange of material from one blade compartment of the mixer to the other. Overlapping blade action is used for materials of lighter viscosities such as carbon pastes, clay coating, creams, and ointments. The overlapping blade produces a lower kneading and shearing compared to the tangential blade action.

Technical Specification of Sigma Mixer Kneader

Model Capacity – Liters Motor (H.P.)
Working Capacity approx. Gross Capacity approx. General Heavy Duty
ASM – 50 50 Liters 80 Liters 5 H.P. 7.5 H.P.
ASM – 75 75 Liters 110 Liters 7.5 H.P. 10 H.P.
ASM – 100 100 Liters 150 Liters 10 H.P. 15 H.P.
ASM – 150 150 Liters 200 Liters 15 H.P. 20 H.P.
ASM – 200 200 Liters 300 Liters 20 H.P. 25 H.P.
ASM – 400 400 Liters 550 Liters 30 H.P. 40 H.P.
ASM – 500 500 Liters 750 Liters 40 H.P. 50 H.P.
ASM – 750 750 Liters 1150 Liters 50 H.P. 60 H.P.
ASM – 1000 1000 Liters 1500 Liters 60 H.P. 70 H.P.
ASM – 1500 1500 Liters 2100 Liters 75 H.P. 80 H.P.
ASM – 2000 2000 Liters 2600 Liters 80 H.P. 90 H.P.
ASM – 3000 3000 Liters 3800 Liters 100 H.P. 120 H.P.

* Power voltage can be adjusted as per customer’s domestic power voltage requirements.
* Rights of technical improvements & modification reserved.
* Illustrations & dimensions are shown for information purpose only.


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