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A mixer is a device or machine used for combining ingredients. In the plastics and rubber industries, specialized mixers like the Banbury mixer are used. These machines apply heat and pressure simultaneously to thoroughly blend materials such as plastic resins with pigments or other additives. The process of mixing various raw materials according to a specific recipe is called compounding and is often the first step in fabricating plastics from pellets, flakes, or powders. A mechanical mixture is defined as a mixture whose components can be separated by mechanical means, unlike a chemical compound. The term "mixer" can also refer to a person who is sociable or a nonalcoholic beverage used in mixed drinks.123

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