KNEADING PROCESS

A kneading device (1) includes: a preliminary kneading device (4) that produces a preslurry by agitating a powder and a liquid introduced and transferring them while wetting the powder with the liquid; and a main kneading device (5) that causes the powder to be uniformly dispersed in the preslurry supplied from the preliminary kneading device (4) to produce a slurry. The main kneading device (5) includes a gap (G) defined by two conical surfaces that face each other with a predetermined distance therebetween and trotate relative to each other about their central axes. The slurry is produced by passing the preslurry through the gap. With the preliminary kneading device (4), the powder is dispersed in the liquid after conforming to the liquid, which suppress damage to the powder. The conditions of main kneading can be changed only by adjusting the gap (G), which facilitates the operation of changing the conditions of the main kneading.