2018

CASE STUDY OF MATERIALS

USED IN A TYPICAL KITCHEN
HAND MIXER

Peiris M.W.S.
[Company name]
9/21/2018
ACKNOWLEDGMENT

First and foremost, we would like to thank our lecturer, for giving us the opportunity
to do this project and helping us. The completion of this assignment would definitely
be impossible without the hard work, good cooperation and good communication of
our own team members.
TABLE OF CONTENT

Page number
Title............................................................................................................................

Introduction................................................................................................................

Varieties of beaters ...................................................................................................

Egg mixer...................................................................................................

Stand mixer................................................................................................

Spiral mixer................................................................................................

Material selection.......................................................................................................

Plastic housing..........................................................................................

Motor.........................................................................................................

Beater........................................................................................................

Identifying the parts ..................................................................................................

Identifying the function..............................................................................................

Listening the objectives ............................................................................................

Determining the properties........................................................................................

Housing ...................................................................................................

Motor........................................................................................................

Beater.......................................................................................................

Historical development of the mixer..........................................................................

Materials related problems with the components......................................................

Housing....................................................................................................

Motor........................................................................................................

Beater.......................................................................................................

Suggest suitable candidate materials for the component........................

Conclusion .............................................................................................
LIST OF FIGURES

Page number

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Figure 15

Figure 16

Figure 17

Figure 18

LIST OF TABLES

Page number
Table 1

Table 2
TITLE
Case study of materials used in a typical kitchen hand mixer

INTRODUCTION
Electric hand mixer is used in any kitchen for Mixing,blendind,whipping and beating. A handle is
attached to the plastic housing and the two beater are attached to the gearmotor. There are many
kinds of hand mixers with different designs, different speeds and different power inputs.
Mixers of the kitchen came to the kitchen in nineteenth century. Before that people used mechanical
systems for mixing. Electric mixer is playing a major role in current society in bakery market

Figure 1
VARIETIES OF BEATERS

Egg beater
An egg beater is consists with a crank and two beaters. User has to grip the mixer by hand and the operate the
two beaters.

Figure 2

Stand mixer
This mixer is mounted to the motor and there is a stand to bear the weight of the device. This type of mixers
are larger than other mixers and it consists with powerful motors. Heavy duty stand mixers can have the 25
gallons and the weight is thousands of pounds.

Figure 3
Spiral mixers
This is a special tool for mixing dough.  Spiral mixers can mix dough with less agitator friction than
planetary mixers. This allows the dough to be mixed without increasing its temperature, ensuring the
dough can rise properly.

MATERIAL SELECTION

Identifying the Parts.

1) Plastic Housing
The all components of the mixer is in this plastic housing. It holds the two beaters, rotor and
other equipments that are mounted to the mixer.

Figure 4

2) Motor
This is the main equipment of the mixer which is an electrical machine that converts
electrical energy into mechanical energy. Motor operate due to the magnetic field and
winding current to generate force in the form of rotation
 Figure 5 Figure 6

Figure 7

3) Beater
This is used for mixing the dough, eggs and cream.This is mounted to the rotor and there are
different size of beater that can be use for several tasks.
 Figure 8

IDENTIFYING THE FUNCTIONS

Deferent parts of the hand mixer has different functions. The followings are the parts parts of
the mixer with their functions.

Table 1

Plastic Housing Motor Beater

Housing is designed to hold The main purpose of the Two beaters of the mixer is
the equipment which are motor is converting the rotating and the dough that
mounted to the mixer. It electrical energy in to user need to be prepared is
prevents to passing the mechanical energy. mixed well by using these
current through the plastic Two beater are mounted to two beaters. Several tasks
housing and user can be used the motor and it works (Stirring,whisking or
it safely due to this plastic deferent speeds as user beating) can be done by
housing. chooses. using these beaters.

LISTING THE OBJECTIVES.

According to the functions of the different parts, the following are their objectives

Table 2
 Housing Motor Beater

Cover the all equipment Rotate the beaters of the Knead the dough
inside the mixer. mixer

DETERMINING THE PROPERTIES

In this section, the properties expected by each part will be determined according to the
objectives listed in the previous section.

1) Housing

 Density (kgm-3) = 1.05 * 103

 Young’s modulus (GPa) = 2.45
 Tensile strength (MPa) = 27.6 55.2
 Elongation (%strain) = 23-25%
 Rockwel hardness (HV) = 103-112
 Fracture toughness(MPam1/2) = 0.03 0.5
 Durability

2) Motor

 Copper winding
 Density (kgm1/2) = 8960
 Young’s modulus(GPa) = 120
 Tensile strength (MPa) = 200
 Elongation (%strain) = 5%
 Rockwell hardness( HV) = 18
 Fracture toughness(MPam1/2) = 40
 Melting point (K) = 1320

 Shaft(Stainless steel)
 Density (kgm1/2)
 Young’s modulus(GPa)
 Tensile strength(MPa)
 Elongation (%strain)
 Rockwel hardness(HV)
  Fracture toughness(MPam1/2)
 Melting point

Figure

 Stator(Laminated core)
 Density(kgm1/2)
 Young’s modulus (GPa)
 Tensile strength (MPa)
 Elongation (%strain)
 Rockwel hardness(HV)
 Fracture toughness (MPam1/2)
 Melting point (K)

Figure 10

 Carbon Brushes
 Density (kgm1/2)
 Young’s modulus (GPa)
 Tensile strength(MPa)
 Elongation (%strain)
  Rockwel hardness (HV)
 Fracture toughness (MPam1/2)
 Melting point (K)

Figure 11

3) Beaters(Stainless steel)

 Density (kgm1/2)
 Young’s modulus (GPa)
 Tensile strength (MPa)
 Elongation (%strain)
 Rockwel hardness (HV)
 Fracture toughness (MPam1/2)
 Melting point (K)

Figure 12
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE MIXER

Figure 13 The first hand mixer

The first hand mixer was made in 1856 by Baltimore,Maryland tinner Ralph Coiler.

Figure 14

Modern Hand Mixer (In 1922 Kitchen Aid made their firsr electric hand mixer.)

The mixer is patented in 1856 by Baltimore,Maryland tinner Ralph Coiler.U.S.Patent .This was
followed by E.P Griffith’s whisk patented in England in 1857.And another hand -turned rotary egg
beater was patented by J.F. and E.P.Monroe in 1859 in the U.S.
The first mixer which is operated by a electric motor was invented by American Rufus Eastman in
1885.In 1908 Herbet Johnson of the Hobart Manufacturing Company has invented the electric
standing mixer.

The first beater which was invented was very small and it was difficult to use. There wasn’t a
electric motor and it was operated by the hand. When mixture is kneading it was a very difficult task
to do. It was not smart when it compares with a modern hand mixer. When we consider the housing
of the mixer, modern mixer is more smart and very easy to handle. The housing of the beater is
covered in plastic and it has a good finish. There are many colors of housing and many types to buy
in the market.

In 1834 the first real electric motor was invented by Thomas Davenport. This simple motor leaded to
the better motors in future. Electric motor is powered by AC(Alternating Current) or DC(Direct
Current).Each types of motors work different ways and use the power of the electromagnetic field.
Electric motor is consists with Armature, Stator and Coil.

There are several types of beaters which are mounted to the beater. They can be used for different
tasks. Due to having several types of beaters it is very easy to knead and do other work by using
those beaters. In modern hand mixers , we can see two beaters are mounted to the mixer and it
makes user to handle it very easily.
MATERIALS RELATED PROBLEMS WITH THE COMPONENTS

Housing

There are many problems can be occurred due to using a plastic housing. While the rotor is rotating,
very high heat generate due to the friction of the other components. When a high voltage is applied it
can be generate the high temperature. As a result of increasing temperature, it can be harm to the
inner parts and outer parts of the mixer. Plastic housing act as a heat resistance barrier and it
prevents heat to come out side. It is quite difficult to grip the plastic housing and operate it. User
needs to be very careful while the mixer is using as slipperiness of the plastic housing. Plastic
covering is fragile and when it falls down it can be broken in to several pieces. If it breaks all inner
parts can be damages and whole device may be break down due to a small crack.While the dough is
kneading the food particles can be insert through the plastic cover from the mounting points.

Recycling is a main problem of using plastic and this is a huge problem in current world.If we burn
plastic materials some gases like Carbon dioxide, Carbon monoxide, Sulphur dioxide can be emitted
to the atmosphere.

Motor

If the device take a high voltage the motor can be burn out. It is costly if replace a new motor
instead of existing motor. Because whole device depends on the motor. When the mixer is using
long time, brushes of the motor can be wear out and need replacement for the brushes.If accidently
the mixer falls down, the parts of the motor can be separated to small parts due to the high impact
loads. The mixer vibrates during the rotor is rotating and it may be difficult for the user to handle the
mixer properly.
If the supply voltage is higher than the recommended voltage, the excess voltage drops through the
motor windings and resulting to the heat dissipation.

Figure 1

Overheating can be occurs from many kinds of reasons

 Over voltage
 Under voltage
 Overloading the motor

Dirt such as food particles of the dough can be block the cooling fans of the motor and it may leads
to the overheating. Because of those dust particles of the motor can be occur some resistance and it
may have to work more harder to over come the resistance. Those food and dust particles can be
damage the insulation too.

Moisture and water can be cause to a several problems of the motor.

 Corrode the insulation
 Lead to short circuit between windings
 Corrode the bearings
 Corrode the motor shaft and rotors.

Beater

There are two beaters in hand mixer and they use for different tasks. While a dough is kneading the
beaters can be separated from the mounted points from the mixer. Some times the beater can be
broken to some peaces while it kneading and splits towards the user. Severe damages can be occur
due to like these cases. Beater is made out of stainless steel and when a oily dough kneads by using
the beaters, it is very difficult to clean the beater.
SUGGEST SUITABLE CANDIDATE MATERIALS FOR THE COMPONENT 

Plastic Housing

Manufacturer can consider about the Polycarbonate instead of the ABS plastic materials

Polycarbonate is developed in the nineteenth century. It was not effectively commercialize till the
1950.Untill 1950 Polycarbonate has been taken for many industries like construction, electrical
components etc.

Figure 16

Polycarbonate is a good material for ABS plastic profiles.

Polycarbonate has
 Great stiffness
 Toughness
 Impact resistance
 Transparency
 Temperature resistance up to 250 degrees Fahrenheit

Polycarbonate has a good colorability and a excellent gloss finish. Not only that it has a very good
electrical insulation ability too. This material ha a good resistance to coffee, tea, fruit, juices, inks,
soaps, detergents and cosmetics.
 Transmission spectrum of Polycarbonate

Beater

Beater of the mixer is made out of the stainless steel.When the mixer is using long time the beaters
starts to corrode slowly. The top layer of the stainless steel can be attacked by some chemical
species. Beater is always dealing with food items like salt and acids, it make the corrosion faster.

Aluminum can be use instead of stainless steel beaters

 Physical properties of aluminum

 Young’s modulus (GPa) = 70
 Shear modulus(GPa) = 26
 Rockwell hardness = 40
 Tensile strength (MPa) = 310
 Elongation (%strain) = 12
 Modulus of elasticity (GPa) = 68.9
 Yield strength (MPa) = 386
 Fracture toughness (Mpam1/2) = 29

 An oxide protective layer is generated on the aluminum surface when it exposes to the air.
 Figure 17

 Aluminum is 100% recyclable.

 Aluminum is a very light metal .
 Fully recycle
 Impact resistance and extremely strong

Using aluminum to make things is very economical than using stainless steel.Aluminium is the
second large most used metal after steel.

Figure 18

CONCLUSION

This Project was very important for us as first year engineering students and we were able to
broadened our knowlage on how materials are used and selected in the industry.This project gave us
basic knoladge of materials and it may very useful when we work in industry and we can recall it.

The manufacturer tried their level best to aplly the most compatible materials to the mixer.After
doing this research we are able to know what is the behaviour of materials and how can apply those
material in suitable way.On the other hand we could know what are the physical and chemical
properties of those material and how can use them by considering the tensile strength,rockwell
hardness, impact toughness etc.Manufacturer has done a lot of experiments and tests before they
release a itam to the market and manufacturer can be overcome the bariers which he faced during the
itme was manufacturing.

Finally, our satisfaction by the final outcome depended on the progress throughout this
project, and the contribution of each member throughout. And we are glad to announce that
we are totally satisfied by the final outcome of our project.
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