Pillow Hot Melt Glue Production Line: Reactor or Sigma Mixer?

Pillow-shaped hot-melt adhesives are primarily based on EVA, APAO, or SBC thermoplastic elastomers, formulated with modifiers such as tackifying resins and petroleum waxes. When heated and blended at temperatures between 150°C and 180°C, the system's dynamic viscosity typically ranges from 5,000 to 150,000 cP, characterizing it as a high-viscosity, flowable melt.

• Reactor: Specifically designed for high-viscosity melts ranging from 5,000 to 500,000 cP. Equipped with a ribbon agitator, it generates powerful axial circulation (up-and-down thrust) while ensuring thorough fluid flow throughout the reactor.
• Sigma mixer: Primarily intended for ultra-high-viscosity plastic masses exceeding 1,000,000 cP or for the wet kneading of dry powders (e.g., high-viscosity silicone rubber resembling modeling clay, or highly filled rubber-plastic compounding). When processing flowable hot melt glue melts, the kneader’s shear torque is excessively high, yet its efficiency in achieving bulk fluid circulation is poor.

Tackifying resins and waxes in hot-melt adhesive formulations are highly temperature-sensitive.

• Reactor: Features a jacketed heat exchange system with an exceptionally high specific surface area; combined with a ribbon agitator that scrapes the vessel walls, it rapidly transfers heat from the walls to the center of the vessel. This ensures precise temperature control and uniform heating, effectively preventing the adhesive from yellowing or charring.
• Sigma mixer: Characterized by a heavy-duty trough structure and limited heat exchange surface area, the kneader offers significantly lower thermal conductivity for fluid melts compared to the reaction kettle, making it prone to localized overheating.

For pillow hot melt glue, the downstream process requires feeding the material into a molding machine or underwater pelletizing system using a high-pressure transfer pump.

• Reactor: The vessel features a conical or elliptical bottom head design; combined with the downward axial thrust of the ribbon agitator, it integrates seamlessly with a high-pressure gear pump to enable efficient, continuous discharge.
• Sigma mixer: When discharging low-to-medium viscosity melts, the discharge rate is slow and significant residue remains; additionally, the shaft seal is prone to leakage and material buildup on the walls.

Reactor VS Sigma Mixer

Building a highly efficient and stable pillow hot melt glue production line is far more than simply purchasing a reaction kettle; it is a comprehensive system engineering project encompassing everything from raw material melting to automated packaging.

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