How to Choose a Static Mixer Nozzle for Two-Part Cartridge Adhesives
By Myles, Owner, EZ Mixers
If you run a maintenance shop or a production line, static mixing nozzle are easy to overlook. It's a small plastic part. But it decides whether the epoxy or acrylic in your cartridge cures to full strength or leaves a soft, streaky bond.
The good news is that choosing one isn't complicated. You need to answer a handful of questions about your adhesive and your cartridge. This guide walks through them in order.
Already know your part number? Match it on our static mixer cross-reference guide. It lists compatible EZ Mixers nozzles by common OEM numbers.
How a static mixer works, in one minute
A static mixer has no moving parts. Inside the tube is a stack of small elements. Each one splits the two streams of adhesive, turns them and folds them back together. The more elements the material passes through, the more times it gets split and folded, and the more even the mix.
That's why you can't fix a bad mix by squeezing slower or faster. If the nozzle doesn't have enough elements for your adhesive, you need a different nozzle.
1. Start with your cartridge and mix ratio
This is the one step where there's no wiggle room. The nozzle has to fit your cartridge, and it has to be built for your mix ratio.
Check the ratio. Two-part cartridges usually come in 1:1, 2:1, 4:1 or 10:1. Nozzles are made in matching families: one family for 1:1 and 2:1, and a separate family for 4:1 and 10:1. The MIXPAC cartridge catalog lists these as separate mixer lines for exactly this reason [S1].
Adhesive makers are clear about it too. 3M's data sheet for Scotch-Weld DP8005, a 10:1 acrylic, says to use only the 10:1 mixing nozzle and that hand mixing isn't recommended [S3]. Loctite AA H8000 is another 10:1 methacrylate sold in cartridges [S4]. Products like these need a 10:1-rated nozzle.
For a 10:1 or 4:1 cartridge on the F-style system, see the MFHX 08-18T helix mixer, the larger MFHX 10-18T helix mixer or the compact MFQX 08-24T Quadro mixer. On a B-System cartridge, the 4:1/10:1 option is the MBQX 05-24L Quadro mixer. These high-ratio nozzles are for 4:1 and 10:1 only, so don't use them on a 1:1 or 2:1 cartridge.
Check the fit. Look at how your current nozzle attaches:
Bayonet: a quarter-turn lock with tabs. Common on 50 mL cartridges.
Twist-lock or threaded: screws onto the cartridge outlet. For 1:1 and 2:1 B-System 50 mL cartridges, see the MBH 05-16T twist-lock helix mixer.
Bell or retaining nut: a separate nut holds the mixer to the cartridge. This is typical on larger 200–600 mL cartridges and meter-mix equipment, where a bell nozzle such as the 160-824 / MCH 08-24 is a common fit for 1:1 and 2:1 materials.
If you're not sure, the cross-reference guide is a quick way to confirm.
2. Choose the element count
More elements give a more thorough mix. They also make a longer nozzle that holds more adhesive and takes more force to push through.
As a starting point, Nordson EFD's two-component selection guide gives typical element counts by chemistry [S2]:
Adhesive type | Typical number of elements |
Acrylic | 8–10 |
Epoxy | 15–24 |
Silicone | 20–30 |
Urethane | 24–36 |
The same guide recommends going toward the higher count in two cases: when part A and part B have very different viscosities, and when the ratio is 4:1 or wider [S2].
Your data sheet will tell you if that applies. Loctite EA E-120HP, a 2:1 epoxy, lists a resin far thicker than its hardener [S5]. A spread like that is a reason to pick the upper end of the epoxy range. Some data sheets go further and name the nozzle outright. Henkel's TDS for Loctite SI 5612, a 4:1 silicone, recommends an 8 mm, 24-element helix nozzle [S6].
Rule of thumb: if the TDS names a nozzle, follow the TDS. Use the table only when it doesn't.
3. Match the nozzle size to viscosity
Thicker adhesives need a wider nozzle. If the nozzle is too narrow for a heavy paste, you'll fight the gun on every bead, and the high back-pressure can push one side out ahead of the other. That gives you an off-ratio start.
On 1:1 and 2:1 bell-style cartridges, a wider bore helps with heavy pastes. The MCH 13-24 bell mixer has a ~13 mm inner diameter, and the 161-236 / MCH 13-36 adds more elements in the same wide bore for materials that are hard to blend.
Signs your nozzle is too narrow:
The gun is hard to squeeze, or a pneumatic gun stalls.
The cartridge or nozzle bulges or leaks at the connection.
Your first bead looks off-color compared to the rest.
Two things also change how thick an adhesive acts in practice. Most get thinner as they warm up, so a cold shop makes dispensing harder. And many get thinner while they're flowing, so the number on the data sheet is a guide, not an exact match for what happens inside the nozzle.
4. Pick a helix or Quadro-style element
You'll see two main element styles:
Helix: a series of twisted elements, alternating left and right. Longer, but works across a wide range of adhesives, including ones that are hard to mix.
Quadro (square) style: a more compact design that mixes in a shorter length. Good for well-matched materials where you want less waste.
For a 50 mL bayonet cartridge, that's the choice between the MAQ 05-16L 16-element Quadro style mixer and the MAH 06-21T 21-element helix mixer. Both are for 1:1 and 2:1. Choose the Quadro style for an evenly matched 1:1 adhesive where waste matters. Choose the helix when the two parts are very different in thickness. If you like the Quadro style but need more mixing, the MAQ 05-24L 24-element Quadro mixer fits the same 1:1/2:1 bayonet cartridges.
5. Choose the tip: stepped or luer
The outlet end controls how the adhesive comes out.
Stepped tip: a plain tapered outlet you can trim with a knife to get the bead size you want. Simple and versatile for general bonding. The 160-824 bell mixer is one example of a stepped-tip nozzle for larger cartridges.
Luer tip: accepts a luer-lock dispensing needle or tip. Use it for small, precise dots or tight spots. The MAQ 05-16L is one example with a luer outlet.
Nozzles ending in "T" in our part numbers have stepped tips. Those ending in "L" have luer outlets.
6. Think about cure time and waste
Work life. Once the two parts meet in the nozzle, the clock starts. Every data sheet lists a work life (also called open time or pot life). If you stop dispensing for longer than that, the adhesive will start to cure inside the nozzle. Swap to a fresh nozzle before you start again. A fast-setting adhesive means more nozzle changes, so keep plenty on hand.
Purge. Most data sheets tell you to dispense and throw away a short bead each time you put on a new nozzle. That clears any off-ratio material from the start.
Waste. Whatever is left in the nozzle when you're done gets thrown away. A longer or wider nozzle holds more. On a small 50 mL cartridge, a nozzle that holds a few milliliters can use up a real share of the cartridge each time you change it. Choose the smallest nozzle that still gives you a complete mix, not the biggest one that fits.
A quick example
Say you're bonding with a 2:1 epoxy in a 50 mL bayonet cartridge, and the TDS shows a thick resin and a thin hardener.
Ratio and fit: 2:1, bayonet, so you need a 1:1/2:1 bayonet nozzle.
Elements: epoxy runs 15–24, and the viscosity gap points to the high end.
Style: the gap also favors a helix.
Tip: stepped for a general bead.
Pick: start with the MAH 06-21T. Purge as the TDS says, then check the bead for streaks before you go into production.
Selection checklist
Cartridge fit confirmed: bayonet, twist-lock or bell
Nozzle ratio family matches the cartridge (1:1/2:1 or 4:1/10:1)
Element count fits the chemistry, at the high end for wide ratios or a big thickness gap
Size suits the viscosity and your gun
Helix or Quadro chosen
Stepped or luer tip chosen
Work life and purge steps checked on the TDS
Waste per nozzle change considered
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a 1:1 nozzle on a 10:1 cartridge?
No. Use a nozzle rated for your ratio. 3M's DP8005 data sheet, for example, calls for its 10:1 nozzle only [S3].
How many elements does an epoxy need?
Typically 15–24. Use more when the two parts are very different in thickness or the ratio is 4:1 or wider [S2].
Why is my adhesive curing in the nozzle?
You've gone past the adhesive's work life. Put on a fresh nozzle, purge a short bead and keep going.
Are EZ Mixers nozzles OEM parts?
No. We sell compatible replacement nozzles. Each one matches the original's fit, element count and size, and they come in cases of 10, 100 or 1,000.
Find your nozzle
The right nozzle comes down to a few questions: does it fit, does it match the ratio, does it have enough elements, and does it suit how thick the adhesive is and how you apply it. When in doubt, the adhesive's data sheet has the final say.
Look up your current part number on the static mixer cross-reference guide. Need 2,000 or more? Request a bulk quote. Free shipping on orders over $200.
Mixpac, Nordson, 3M, Loctite and Plexus are trademarks of their owners. EZ Mixers is not affiliated with them. Part numbers are for cross-reference only.
Sources
[S1] medmix, MIXPAC Systems for Adhesives catalog, 11/2025. Link
[S2] Nordson EFD, How to Select the Best Two-Component Dispensing System. Link
[S3] 3M, Scotch-Weld Structural Plastic Adhesive DP8005 Technical Data Sheet. Link
[S4] Henkel, LOCTITE AA H8000 Technical Data Sheet. Link
[S5] Henkel, LOCTITE EA E-120HP Technical Data Sheet. Link
[S6] Henkel, LOCTITE SI 5612 Technical Data Sheet. Link
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