Purging compounds play a key role in plastics processing. They are used by processors to remove excess polymer, color and other impurities from a machine and tools between runs.
On shop floors today, there are three primary types of purging compounds: abrasive, non-abrasive and chemical.
Purging is done in several plastic production processes, including blow molding, compounding, extrusion and injection molding. There may also be other instances where purging is necessary.
Purging compounds are designed for specific operations and parameters. They can help eliminate carbon accumulation in screw and barrel assemblies and die sets. This has a positive impact on processing efficiency, scrap rates, die life and equipment maintenance.
Most purging compounds are produced specifically to clean thermoplastic processing equipment. They usually contain a base resin and other additives that are designed to clean the screw, barrel and die. Purging compounds are also used for color and material changes, as well as cleaning hot runner molds.
Reducing color or polymer change-over times can significantly enhance operating margins by increasing equipment and labor uptime, allowing organizational assets to be more fully leveraged toward providing complete value to the manufacturing process.
Today, purging compounds are widely used in thermoplastics processing. They help ensure efficiency and reduce production costs. A number of machinery makers also recommend purging compounds for routine machine maintenance.
In injection molding, machines can automate the steps from purge to molding.
For more information on purging compounds, visit these links abrasive, non-abrasive and chemical.