Trade fair highlight 10. July 2024

With high energy costs, thermoplastics processors often shut down their plants completely during break times. The main problem is contamination in the extruder due to oxidation and thermal degradation of the polymer remaining in the cylinder. The better the screw and barrel of the injection moulding system or the extruder and the moulding tools are cleaned, the more unproblematic the production can start again after the downtime.

Without thorough cleaning, discoloration and black spots may form. As a result, this leads to long start-up times and the formation of excessive and avoidable scrap. Even several hours after the resumption of production, carbonizations may dissolve and contaminate the end products.

With Ultra Purge™ 3615, Chem-Trend offers a ready-to-use purging compound. The product can also be used to clean the screw, cylinder and head of blow moulding systems without an accumulator during the color change. The rotation of the screw causes the system to “empty” itself. Since the purging compound does not adhere to metal, pulling the screw is considerably easier. When used as a rountine-based maintenance product, it can even completely prevent the formation of contamination. Ultra Purge™ 3615 can also be used beyond the scenario of a shutdown with regard to quick material and colour changes.

In addition to a use during the shutdown of machines as well as the extrusion blow moulding process and the blown film extrusion, the product is also used successfully, especially during compounding, since there are often precise process specifications here, which mandatorily require regular screw tightening. The purging compound is approved for indirect food contact.