1. Introduction

In the R&D and small-batch production of lithium-ion batteries, the uniformity, bubble-free property, and process stability of raw material mixing directly affect the performance of electrode slurry, which in turn is related to the battery's energy density and cycle life. As a key pretreatment equipment, lab-scale vacuum mixers need to meet the technical requirements of high precision, small batch, and efficient dispersion. The AOT-VM-150 lab-scale small vacuum mixer, with its integrated vacuum system and precise control design, provides a reliable solution for the mixing of lithium-ion battery electrode slurry and ceramic auxiliary materials. Its technical characteristics and application advantages are of great significance for improving the quality of lithium-ion battery raw material processing in the laboratory stage.

2. Core Technical Characteristics of the Equipment

2.1 Vacuum Mixing and Sealing Design

The equipment is equipped with a built-in vacuum pump, enabling the entire mixing process to be carried out in a vacuum environment with a vacuum degree of ≤-90~-95Kpa. This design can effectively remove air from the mixing system, avoid abnormal porosity inside the electrode caused by residual bubbles, and significantly improve the material filling rate and structural compactness of the subsequent electrode formation, laying a foundation for the high conductivity and structural stability of lithium-ion battery electrodes. At the same time, the equipment adopts a soft sealing process. Compared with the traditional hard sealing method, the soft sealing has a higher fit degree of the sealing contact surface, which can maintain a stable vacuum environment for a long time and reduce the impact of vacuum leakage on the mixing effect. It is especially suitable for the processing of materials sensitive to gas content, such as lithium-ion battery slurry.

2.2 Optimization of Power and Mixing System

The mixing power system adopts a gearbox combined with frequency conversion speed regulation technology, with an input power of 150W. The mixing speed can be precisely adjusted within the range of 0~320RPM through a frequency converter. This design can flexibly match the mixing speed according to the characteristics of lithium-ion battery raw materials (such as the particle size of active materials, the viscosity of binders, and the volatility of solvents). For high-viscosity electrode slurry, a low speed can be used to avoid material splashing and local overheating; for the mixing stage of conductive agents that require rapid dispersion, the speed can be increased to enhance the shearing and dispersion effects. In addition, the equipment innovatively adopts a double-blade mixing design. Through the coordinated rotation of the blades, a multi-dimensional mixing trajectory is formed, which breaks the mixing blind area of the traditional single-blade mixing, shortens the time for uniform mixing of the slurry, and reduces the agglomeration of active materials, ensuring the uniform construction of the conductive network.

2.3 Structural and Operational Convenience Design

From the perspective of space adaptability and operational practicality, the overall dimensions of the equipment are controlled at approximately 330mm×310mm×510mm, with a weight of only about 20kg. It can be flexibly deployed in the limited space of the laboratory without the need for a dedicated installation area for large-scale equipment. The material carrying adopts a 150ml stainless steel vacuum drum. The stainless steel material has good corrosion resistance and cleanliness, which can avoid the interference of metal ion dissolution on the performance of lithium-ion battery electrolytes and electrodes. Moreover, it supports customized design, which can meet the mixing needs of small-batch materials in different laboratories (such as the R&D of new electrode material formulas). In terms of operation, the equipment enables precise setting of mixing time (0~9999 minutes) and oscillation speed, and the oscillation mode supports stepless speed regulation. Operators can preset parameters according to the experimental plan, reducing errors caused by manual intervention and improving the repeatability and reliability of experimental data.

3. Key Technical Parameters and Performance Advantages

3.1 Analysis of Core Technical Parameters

The equipment is compatible with dual-voltage input of AC220V/AC110V, which can adapt to the power supply environment of different laboratories and improve the versatility of the equipment. In terms of mixing efficiency and quality control, the speed adjustment range of 0~320RPM covers the entire stage needs of lithium-ion battery electrode slurry from initial material dispersion to later uniform mixing. Combined with the high vacuum degree of ≤-90~-95Kpa, it can effectively solve the problem of uneven slurry density caused by air entrainment in traditional normal-pressure mixing. The standard volume of 150ml and customized options not only meet the needs of laboratory small-dose formula research (such as the ratio optimization of new positive electrode material Li-rich NCM and conductive agent) but also allow small-batch sample preparation, providing data support for subsequent pilot production.

3.2 Performance Advantages and Application Value

Compared with traditional laboratory mixing equipment, the core advantages of this vacuum mixer lie in the two dimensions of "precise control" and "quality assurance". On the one hand, through frequency conversion speed regulation, timing control, and stepless oscillation adjustment, the standardization of the mixing process is realized, avoiding experimental deviations caused by differences in the experience of operators, and providing stable process conditions for the R&D of lithium-ion battery raw material formulas. On the other hand, the combination of the vacuum environment and soft sealing technology solves the bubble problem from the source, improves the compactness of the slurry, and further improves the coating quality of the electrode and the charge-discharge performance of the battery. In practical applications, the equipment is not only suitable for the mixing of lithium-ion battery electrode slurry (positive and negative electrodes) but also can be extended to the mixing of lithium-ion battery-related materials such as ceramic diaphragm pretreatment materials and electrolyte composite carriers, with a wide range of laboratory application scenarios. In addition, the equipment provides a one-year limited warranty and lifelong technical support, reducing the maintenance cost of laboratory equipment and ensuring the continuity of long-term experimental research.

4. Application Significance in Lithium-Ion Battery R&D

In the context of the rapid iteration of lithium-ion battery technology, the raw material processing process in the laboratory stage plays a key supporting role in technological breakthroughs. The AOT-VM-150 vacuum mixer provides reliable equipment support for the formula optimization and process parameter exploration of new electrode materials (such as silicon-based negative electrodes and cobalt-free positive electrodes) through the precise control of the four core elements of "vacuum degree, speed, time, and sealing performance" in the mixing process. For example, in the mixing of silicon-based negative electrode slurry, the high vacuum degree can reduce air residue when silicon particles are mixed with binders, avoiding electrode cracking caused by the volume expansion of silicon particles during charge and discharge; the double-blade mixing design can ensure the uniform dispersion of silicon particles and conductive agents, improving the conductivity and cycle stability of the electrode. At the same time, the miniaturization and customization characteristics of the equipment can reduce the material consumption cost of new material R&D, accelerate the experimental cycle, and provide key process verification support for the transformation of lithium-ion battery technology from the laboratory to industrialization.

5. Conclusion

The AOT-VM-150 lab-scale small vacuum mixer meets the core needs of lithium-ion battery raw material mixing in the laboratory stage through its integrated vacuum system, precise power control, and compact structural design. Its technical advantages in vacuum degree, speed regulation, and sealing performance effectively improve the mixing quality of lithium-ion battery electrode slurry, providing stable process conditions for battery performance optimization and new material R&D. In the future, as lithium-ion battery technology develops towards higher energy density and longer cycle life, such high-precision laboratory mixing equipment will become an important support for promoting formula innovation and process optimization, laying a foundation for technological breakthroughs in the lithium-ion battery industry.