SLURRY MIXER WITH CONTAINER ATTACHED BAFFLES

The invention is concerned with an apparatus for mixing a slurry comprising buoyant particles and a liquid. The apparatus of the invention comprises a cylindrical tank for containing the slurry, a downpumping turbine for mixing together the particles and liquid, the turbine being disposed within the tank and having a turbine blade located near the bottom of the tank, and from two to eight partial baffles arranged within and on or adjacent the tank wall and substantially evenly spaced around the circumference of the tank so as to provide partial baffling at least in the vicinity of the slurry liquid level of the slurry being mixed, whereby to prevent accumulation of buoyant stagnant particles on the liquid surface and produce substantially uniform outlet slurry concentrations while minimizing consumption of mixing energy. The total surface area of the baffles is substantially equal to the surface area provided by four triangular baffles each having a horizontal side equal to about 10 to 15% of the tank diameter and a vertical side equal to about 15 to 20% of the tank diameter. The mixing apparatus of the invention is particularly useful in the manufacture of elastomers.