The Department of Automatic Control and Systems Engineering (ACSE) team at the University of Sheffield has begun using a Thinky Mixer from equipment manufacturer Intertronics in its work to develop a diagnostic glove that includes several flexible bioelectronic sensors.
The sensors are formed from elastomers mixed with various conductive nano or micro particle compounds, like graphite, platinum, and silver, which are 3D printed onto the glove’s material.
The development of the product involved mixing nanoparticles into a very viscous filled polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) mixture to produce a graphite composite.
After trialling the mixer, the ASCE have said that they no longer need to use solvents as a mixing aid, removing a step from the process, improving health and safety, and increasing repeatability.
“The Thinky Mixer is a huge improvement on our previous process and means we can achieve consistent outcomes more quickly,” said Tom Paterson, postdoctoral research associate at the University of Sheffield. “The mix quality is extremely good, the mixer doesn’t introduce air into the mix, and we’re making a substantial time saving.”
