Drick DRK6175 Open Two-Roll Mill for Polymer Compounding and Pigment Dispersion

Overview

The Drick DRK6175 Open Two-Roll Mill is an industrial-grade rubber and plastic compounding equipment engineered for high-shear mechanical working of thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers. Operating on the principle of differential roll speed and adjustable nip gap, it facilitates uniform dispersion of pigments, fillers, stabilizers, and additives into polymer matrices—including PVC compounds, masterbatches, elastomers, and engineering plastics. Designed for laboratory-scale development and pilot-line production, the DRK6175 delivers reproducible shear history, temperature-controlled processing, and precise roll surface geometry to ensure consistent melt homogeneity and particle deagglomeration. Its robust cast-iron frame, precision-ground chilled cast-iron rolls, and dual-speed variable-frequency drive support controlled rheological conditioning essential for formulation optimization and QC validation in R&D and quality assurance environments.

Key Features

• Chilled cast-iron rolls (Φ175 mm × L350 mm) with ±0.02 mm roundness tolerance and surface hardness ≥60 HRC for thermal stability and wear resistance
• Adjustable roll gap from 0.1 mm to 12 mm via precision handwheel with calibrated scale and locking mechanism
• Dual independent AC frequency inverters enabling independent speed control of front and rear rolls (speed ratio adjustable from 1:1 to 1:1.4)
• Roll surface temperature maintained via integrated water-cooling channels (inlet/outlet ports compatible with external chiller units up to 10°C–60°C range)
• Emergency stop button, roll-gap safety guard, and overload protection circuit compliant with IEC 60204-1 machinery safety standards
• Stainless steel splash guard and removable roll cover for rapid cleaning and residue-free operation during multi-material changeovers

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The DRK6175 accommodates a broad spectrum of viscoelastic materials including PVC plastisols, polyolefin-based color masterbatches, carbon-black-loaded EPDM compounds, TPU granules, and calcium carbonate-filled PP composites. It supports batch sizes from 100 g to 1.5 kg per pass, with optimal throughput achieved at 2–4 passes depending on filler loading and target dispersion quality. The mill meets GB/T 12812–2006 (Chinese national standard for open mills), aligns with ISO 2577:2019 for thermoplastic compound preparation, and is routinely deployed in facilities operating under ISO/IEC 17025-accredited testing protocols. While not certified for pharmaceutical GMP or FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliance (as it is non-data-logging process equipment), its mechanical repeatability and traceable operational parameters support GLP-aligned documentation workflows when paired with external loggers.

Software & Data Management

The DRK6175 is a standalone electromechanical system without embedded software or digital connectivity. All operational parameters—roll speeds, gap setting, cooling water inlet temperature, and processing duration—are manually recorded by operators using standardized lab notebooks or LIMS-integrated electronic forms. For audit readiness, users may integrate external USB data loggers (e.g., Omega OM-DAQPRO-5300) to capture real-time roll surface temperature (via embedded PT100 sensors) and motor current draw as proxy indicators of torque load and material viscosity changes. No firmware updates, cloud interfaces, or cybersecurity features are provided, consistent with its classification as Class A industrial equipment per EN 61000-6-4 electromagnetic compatibility requirements.

Applications

• Dispersion evaluation of organic pigments and inorganic fillers in polymeric carriers for masterbatch qualification
• Rheological preconditioning of PVC dry blends prior to extrusion or calendering trials
• Small-batch formulation screening for flame-retardant compounds, conductive composites, and UV-stabilized resins
• Preparation of homogeneous test plaques for ASTM D412 tensile testing and ISO 37 hardness measurement
• Shear history simulation for studying polymer degradation kinetics under controlled thermal-mechanical stress
• QC release testing of incoming raw polymer lots for gel content, foreign particle presence, and batch-to-batch consistency

FAQ

What is the maximum continuous operating time per batch?
The DRK6175 is rated for intermittent duty cycles; typical processing duration is 3–8 minutes per batch, followed by ≥5-minute cool-down to maintain roll surface temperature stability.
Can the mill be used for silicone rubber processing?
Yes—provided the formulation contains no platinum-cure catalysts sensitive to iron contamination; use of stainless steel scrapers and pre-pass conditioning is recommended.
Is roll heating capability available as an option?
No; the DRK6175 is configured exclusively for water-cooled operation. For heated-roll applications, consider the DRK6175-H variant (separate model with cartridge heater integration).
What maintenance intervals are recommended?
Lubrication of gearboxes and bearings every 500 operating hours; roll surface inspection and truing every 6 months or after 2,000 operating hours, whichever occurs first.
Does Drick provide calibration certificates for roll gap or speed accuracy?
Upon request, third-party metrology reports (traceable to CNAS-accredited labs) can be supplied for roll diameter, gap scale linearity, and encoder-based speed verification—additional fee applies.