Lipstick Manufacture

 The process

Lipsticks are commonly made in small batches. A ordinary manufacturing method might be as follows:

The oil is heated in the processing tank to a hundred seventy five - 185ºF (80 - 85ºC). The waxes are melted one after the other in a hemispherical jacketed vessel (regularly referred to as a "kettle"), that's normally ready with an anchor stirrer/scraper. Some of the oil may be added to the kettle to aid the process.

The waxy phase is delivered to the oily section. Different varieties of mixers/dispersers are used to combine the two levels.

A "pigment grind" is prepared through dispersing the powdered pigment in part of the oil using a 3 roll mill, ball mill or similar conventional mill. More and more pre-synchronized pigments are used. These do not require grinding as such, however a few degree of shearing may be required to interrupt down the clumped debris.

Ready-to-use liquid pigment dispersions also are widely used no matter their better price. These may be brought without delay to oils and waxes with out pre-remedy.

The crushed pigment is delivered to the oil/wax section and combined until a homogeneous product is received. This may additionally require going thru a colloid mill or comparable.

The combination is slightly cooled earlier than including flavors, preservatives and different components.

The completed product is held at a decrease temperature earlier than being forged into molds and cooled to solidify.

The sticks can be "flamed" to produce a sleek floor finish.

The trouble

The manner is challenge to a number of troubles:

Long processing times are required to soften the waxes; Solid chunks may also want to be broken up earlier than they can be delivered to the kettle.

Ground pigments and pre-dispersions are hard to disperse inside the oil/wax medium due to the large difference in viscosity.

The final product may additionally require passage via a grinder to obtain the specified consistency and homogeneity.

The solution

Product high-quality and consistency can be improved and processing times may be extensively reduced by means of using a Silverson excessive shear batch mixer to prepare the premix. It also can reduce and in some cases get rid of the want for traditional grinding. The rotor/stator mixer works as follows:

Level 1

Oils and waxes are weighed into the pot and heated. The mixer starts offevolved while the product is partly liquefied. The excessive-velocity rotation of the rotor creates effective suction, drawing debris of wax and other components into the operating head.

Level 1

2d step

Step 3

Advantages

Very brief mixing times.

Improved consistency and texture of the product.

Some manufacturing steps can be eliminated.

The reduced particle size and greater uniform premix produced can considerably reduce the time required for the milling step.

Silverson manufactures a range of backside access and batch mixers appropriate for this software:

High Shear Batch Mixers

Can be hooked up on mobile hydraulic ground stands, permitting one device to address the contents of a couple of kettles

Used along side an anchor stirrer/scraper

Small gadgets available for R&D and pilot production

High Shear Bottom Entry Mixers

No submerged wells – reduces cleansing wishes

Ultra Sanitary Models