Aerospace and Defense
Mix two-part adhesives perfectly, repeatably, and without bubbles, while improving R&D and production capabilities.
Connect with a Mixing SpecialistFailure is not an option - find success with FlackTek™.
Mix adhesives, coatings, sealants, propellants, composites, and casting materials.
Our bladeless mixing technology overcomes aerospace mixing challenges, while the vacuum feature ensures cleanliness by removing impurities and minimizing outgassing and contamination risks. Mixing under vacuum prevents air entrainment, enabling efficient production of bubble-free adhesives and mixed materials, saving time and ensuring consistent results.
Benefits include
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Precision Mixing for Critical Applications
The FlackTek™ delivers highly uniform and repeatable mixing results, essential for the stringent requirements of aerospace and defense materials.
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Efficient Processing of Advanced Materials
Capable of handling high-performance composites, adhesives, and sealants used in aerospace and defense industries.
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Air-Free Mixtures
Bladeless centrifugal materials processing eliminates air bubbles, ensuring material integrity and performance in high-stress environments.
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Non-Contaminating Mixing Environment
Disposable mixing containers prevent cross-contamination, maintaining the purity of sensitive and reactive formulations.
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Temperature Control Capabilities
Advanced models offer precise temperature regulation to protect heat-sensitive components during the mixing process.
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Versatile Batch Sizes
Accommodates a wide range of batch volumes, suitable for both research and development and full-scale production needs.
We can help you process
- High-Performance Epoxy Resins (e.g., for composite structures)
- Carbon Fiber Composites (e.g., resin impregnation)
- Ceramic Matrix Composites (e.g., for heat-resistant components)
- Energetic Materials (e.g., propellants and explosives formulations)
- Silicone Elastomers (e.g., for seals and gaskets)
- Metal Powders (e.g., aluminum, titanium for additive manufacturing)
- Thermal Interface Materials (e.g., conductive greases and pads)
- Conductive Adhesives (e.g., silver or copper-filled epoxies)
- Polyurethanes (e.g., for coatings and adhesives)
- Nano-enhanced Materials (e.g., graphene or carbon nanotube composites)
Common challenges and solutions
Repeatable Results
The challenge
Manufacturers can’t risk mixing material incorrectly. Defined, validated, and repeatable processes bring consistency and repeatability to bonding procedures and sealants.
The solution
FlackTek™ easily mixes common adhesives such as Hysol EA9394, EA9394-C2, RTV566, CV-2566, CV-1142, and RTV560. These bondlines are critical structural features, and it is imperative that the multiple part adhesive be both properly and quickly mixed, and de-gassed. Clearly, homogenous mixing achieved via processing with a FlackTek™.
Agglomerations
The solution
Adhesives may need viscosity modifiers/fillers added to them to decrease ‘sag’ associated with bonding applications. Mixing these high surface area fillers into adhesive is difficult and if done improperly can lead to expensive scrapping and rework costs. The FlackTek™ allows engineers to create robust workflows for optical bonding applications. Typical adhesives used in optics bonding require the addition of Cabosil™ or other fumed silicas to gradually increase viscosity of the system, preventing sag/dripping during application. These high surface area fillers often entrain air, preventing optical clarity in transmission pathways or causing stress concentration problems in structural bonds. Imperfections in these bond applications will often lead to costly repair or rework steps, or scrapped parts entirely. Because of these issues, many applications require a syringe loaded with perfectly mixed, 100% bubble-free adhesive. A vacuum FlackTek™ can quickly achieve this result.
Bubbles
The solution
Unreacted two part adhesives can lead to contamination in space. Pending the specific chemistry and product, a vacuum FlackTek™ offers the ability to strip/clean materials such as silicones, urethanes and epoxies to help reduce collected volatile condensable materials. Many aerospace applications require the use of low outgassing materials to aid in sensor cleanliness during flight and operation. Oftentimes, an overlooked issue with two part adhesives is that unmixed and therefore unreacted low molecular weight polymeric materials can be the root cause of failed CVCM testing. With repeatable mixing as well as the ability to strip contaminants under vacuum while mixing, the FlackTek™ can help users achieve the highest level of cleanliness. CVCM https://outgassing.nasa.gov/og_desc.html
See a MEGA FlackTek run
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to manually degas my materials in a vacuum chamber after mixing in my FlackTek™?
No, there is no need for manual degassing. The FlackTek™ naturally removes air during the mixing process. Additionally, we offer in-situ vacuum mixing with the option to mix in an inert atmosphere.
What is the maximum viscosity or material that FlackTek™ can mix and homogenize?
FlackTek™ can handle highly viscous fluids and semi-solids up to multi-million centipoise.
Is there any variability in the process?
No, there is no variability. FlackTek™ offers a highly repeatable and defined process due to the programmable and consistent nature of the system. Some systems can store up to 250 programs. Moreover, FlackTek™ utilizes a single-use closed-container system, eliminating the need for cleanup and the risk of cross-contamination from batch to batch.
Talk to us about your process
Tell us what you are mixing and we will come back with a recommendation — machine, cup and programme.
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