Recently, a domestic laboratory equipment developer, in collaboration with the School of Chemical Engineering at Qingdao University of Science and Technology, has introduced a multi-adaptive smart stirring paddle designed for varied reaction scenarios. Featuring modular structural design, anti-stick material innovation, and adaptive speed control technology, the device addresses traditional stirring issues such as “uneven mixing and difficult cleaning” when processing high-viscosity or coking-prone materials. Combined with laboratory reactors, it significantly improves pilot testing efficiency and product purity.

　　According to Associate Professor Zhao Yang, the project lead, traditional laboratory reactor stirring paddles often have fixed structures (such as anchor or paddle types) suited only to specific material characteristics. When processing low-viscosity liquids, localized vortexes lead to uneven mixing, while high-viscosity materials like resins and polyolefin melts tend to stick and coke on surfaces, requiring frequent shutdowns and cleaning. This not only interrupts experiments but also risks data inaccuracies due to material residue.

　　The newly developed smart stirring paddle adopts a “modular blade + adjustable shaft” design, equipped with three interchangeable blade types—anchor, ribbon, and propeller—suitable for materials with viscosities ranging from 50 mPa·s (aqueous solutions) to 50,000 mPa·s (high-viscosity resins). The blade surface is coated with a nano-level PTFE-ceramic composite layer, achieving a contact angle of 118° and reducing material adhesion by over 85% compared to conventional stainless-steel paddles. Additionally, the paddle integrates a torque-sensing module that monitors real-time viscosity changes and automatically adjusts rotation speed (50–1500 rpm) via linkage with the reactor control system, ensuring precise stirring intensity across different reaction stages.

　　In practical tests using the new stirring paddle with advanced laboratory reactors, polyolefin degradation materials (approx. 30,000 mPa·s) achieved 97.2% mixing uniformity—a 35% improvement over fixed paddles—while coking inside the reactor dropped below 2%. Maintenance cleaning time was shortened from 4 hours to 30 minutes. In pharmaceutical intermediate synthesis involving high-viscosity resins, improved mixing raised target product purity from 92.3% to 96.8%, with batch stability error controlled within ±1.5%.

　　“The stirring paddle acts as the ‘core hand’ of material mixing in reactors, and its adaptability directly affects experimental outcomes,” stated Associate Professor Zhao Yang. The smart stirring paddle has received three utility model patents and one invention patent. It is already being used in cooperation with companies such as Jiangsu Hangye Energy and Shanghai Huotong Instruments, supporting pilot reactors for pesticide intermediate and resin microsphere synthesis. The next phase involves developing a magnetically driven, shaftless version for high-risk reagent environments, with a prototype expected to complete testing and enter the market within the year.