Scalable processing parameters to fabricate silicon elastomer microparticles using a blade-free planetary mixer with a thixotropic medium

Abstract

The development of biomedical devices and soft robotics has spurred the utilization of silicone elastomers. Converting these polymers into particulates is increasingly important for their application to advanced materials and processes. However, the highly viscous nature of silicone resins, resulting from their long polymer chains, makes it challenging to fabricate them as particulates. Recently, a blade-free planetary mixer has been used to effectively emulsify viscous resins in a thixotropic medium. However, the particle fabrication process has not yet been examined to gain full control over the produced microparticles. This study presents key processing parameters for the fabrication of silicone elastomer microparticles in a sodium alginate medium using a blade-free planetary mixer. The experimental results show that stirring speed, stirring time, and medium concentration are the determining factors for controlling the particle size distribution. The variation in particle size by parameters exhibits differences depending on the viscous-to-elastic transition of the medium.