An air jet sieve is a high tech laboratory instrument for precise particle size analysis and distribution of dry powdery materials. Using air jet technology it separates particles by size and density, giving accurate and repeatable results. The core of an air jet sieve is the test sieve, a mesh screen with precise mesh aperture that separates particles into different size fractions. This is key to determining particle size distribution which is crucial for quality control and research in many industries.
Air jet sieves work by using a slotted nozzle to blow air through the sieve, creating a high speed air jet that fluidises the particles on the sieve surface. This fluidisation allows the particles to be carried down through the sieve by the exit air flow, separating them by size and density. The system has a vacuum system to control the air flow, to prevent particle agglomeration and to get consistent results. The nozzle speed and air jet pressure can be adjusted to suit different materials, making air sieves a versatile tool for particle analysis.
Browse our Air Jet Sieve Shaker Machines, sieves and covers. Our Air Sieves come in stainless steel mesh from 20µm to 4.75mm. Each Air Jet Sieve can be used with testing methods AASHTO M 92 and ASTM E 11. Our Air Jet Sieve products also include the replacement Micron Air Jet 200mm Sieve Cover.
Our listings include two Air Jet Sieve Shaker Machines in the Mikro Air Jet Sieve Shaker and the Retsch AS 200 Air Jet Sieving Machine. The Mikro Air Jet Sieve Shaker can sieve 10 to 100g dry powders. The AS 200 Air Jet Sieve Shaker is ideal for dispersion and separation of powdered materials like cosmetics, coatings and more that is needed from a Mikro air jet sieve.
Air sieves are a modern version of traditional sieving, with technology added to give precision and speed to particle sizes for analysis. This overview looks at the design, functionality and applications of air sieves in material testing and quality control.
Basic Components and Functionality: Air jet test sieves work on a principle that is different from conventional sieving methods. Instead of using mechanical agitation or manual effort, air sieves use a jet of air that blows through a fine mesh strainer to dislodge particles from the sieve fabric, separating them by size. The device consists of a sieve frame that holds a woven wire mesh or stainless steel mesh with a system to direct air flow through the apertures.
Materials Used: Frames: The stainless steel frame of air sieves are made of stainless steel or brass, chosen for their durability and wear resistance. Stainless steel frames are preferred for their longevity and corrosion resistance. Mesh Materials: The meshes in air sieves can be made of stainless steel mesh or woven wire mesh to get the precision needed for fine particle separation and other foreign bodies.
Sieve Design: Air sieves are designed to hold one sieve at a time, where air flow is controlled from below to move the particles. This includes a pan below the sieve to collect the particles that pass through the mesh during the process. The design may also include a rotating plate or skirt to redistribute the particles evenly on the mesh surface to get uniform air flow and efficient sieving.
Mesh Sizes and Openings: Air sieves come in various mesh sizes to accommodate different sizes from fine powders to coarse granular materials. The mesh openings are precision engineered to meet standard classifications to get consistent and reproducible results.
Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals: In pharmaceutical industry, air sieves are used to determine the particle distribution of active pharmaceutical ingredients and excipients to ensure consistency in drug efficacy and delivery. In chemical industry, these sieves are used to analyze size distribution of various chemical powders and compounds to ensure quality control and compliance to industry standards.
Food and Beverage: The food industry uses air sieves to analyze the granulometry of dry ingredients like flour, powdered milk and spices. Particle uniformity in these ingredients is crucial to get the desired texture and flavor in food products.
Construction and Mining: For construction materials like sand and crushed stones, air sieves help in grading the aggregates by size which is essential for the quality and strength of concrete and asphalt. In mining, these sieves are used to determine the granulometry of crushed ores and minerals to get efficient processing and refinement of raw materials.
Sieving Technology: Air jet sieving technology uses controlled air flow which not only separates the particles but also prevents the sieve mesh from clogging, a common problem in traditional sieving of fine powders. This method is ideal for materials that are too fine for standard sieve shakers and provides a fast and reproducible alternative to manual sieving.
Traceability and Standards Compliance: Air sieves are designed to meet international standards including ASTM and ISO. This ensures that the sieves can be used globally in industries that require strict quality control. Traceability in manufacturing and testing process is maintained through detailed records and standard operating procedures.
While air sieves have many advantages, they have limitations. They are meant for fine particles and not suitable for very coarse particles and materials. Initial cost and maintenance of sophisticated pneumatic system is higher than traditional sieving equipment.
Proper maintenance of air sieves is important to ensure longevity and accuracy. Regular cleaning of mesh and air jet system is required to prevent particle buildup that can affect performance. Calibration and periodic servicing is recommended to keep the system running smoothly.
Air sieves are a big leap in particle analysis technology. With their ability to separate fine particles and prevent mesh clogging through controlled air flow, they have become an essential tool in industries where particle distribution is critical. As technology advances, these devices will continue to get more accurate, efficient and compliant to international testing standards.
Air sieves are used across various industries like pharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics and materials science. In pharmaceutical industry, they are used to determine the particle size distribution of active pharmaceutical ingredients and excipients to ensure consistency in drug formulation. In food industry, air sieves are used to analyze the granulometry of dry ingredients like flour and powdered milk to get the desired texture and flavor. In cosmetics, these sieves are used to formulate powders and creams by ensuring uniform particle sizes. Air sieves are also indispensable in materials science to analyze ceramics, chemicals and other powdery substances to ensure quality control and R&D.
Air jet has several advantages over traditional sieving:
Efficient Dispersion: Air sieves disperses particles efficiently for accurate particle size distribution analysis.
High Accuracy: Air sieves are ideal for quality control and R&D applications, gives reliable and reproducible results.
Easy to Use: These sieves are user friendly and requires minimal training, for wide range of users.
Versatile: Air sieves can handle dry powders and wet samples, for various applications.
These benefits makes air sieves the preferred choice for industries that requires particle size analysis.
Choosing the right air jet sieve involves:
Test Sieve Certificate: Make sure the air jet sieve comes with a matching test sieve certificate which ensures the sieve meets the standards.
Air Jet Max: Determine the maximum air jet pressure and nozzle speed required for your application.
Sieve Stack: How many sieves do you need and how easy is the sieve stack to use for your testing?
Vacuum System: What type of vacuum system do you need for your application and how user friendly is it?
Particle Analysis: What type of particle analysis do you need and how accurate and reliable is the air jet sieve?
By considering these, you can choose the right air jet sieve for you, for accurate particle size distribution analysis.
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