Order Now

ASACLEAN EXTRUSION PURGING INSTRUCTIONS for High Heat Resins (570°F – 735°F or 360°C – 390°C)

Notes before purging:

  1. ASACLEAN SX should not be left idle in the barrel at temperatures above 700°F for more than 30 minutes as decomposition may occur.
  2. Keep the barrel full of ASACLEAN SX at all times to prevent oxygen from entering the barrel – excess oxygen will accelerate material decomposition and carbon formation and could potentially result in fire at the higher end of the recommended temperature range.
  3. Screens and dies may be left in place for purging with the ASACLEAN SX.  In most cases the restricted flow can aid in the mechanical cleaning process.  Special procedures may be required to effectively clean extruders with vented barrels.  If possible plug the vents.  If the vents cannot be plugged, contact Technical Service to discuss the most appropriate options. 
  4. To minimize the potential of excessive smoke while purging, it is recommended that a bucket of water be kept near the machine.  Place ASACLEAN purge piles in water immediately after coming out from the nozzle.

Purging Instructions:

  1. Upon completion of the production run, extrude the high heat resin from the machine, emptying the barrel.  Purging must begin as soon as possible.  Clean the hopper and feed throat.   
  2. Feed about 1 system capacity (barrel and die) of the ASACLEAN SX into the hopper.  Start purging at slow screw speed.  After the ASACLEAN SX starts coming out of the extruder, increase the screw speed to a moderate level.  Several times during the purge, stop the screw and allow the ASACLEAN to sit for about 30 seconds.  Resume the screw rotation.  If resin contamination is still visible in the purge pile, repeat this step until clean.

    Note:  If processing temperatures are at or near the maximum recommended temperature for the SX Grade, low to medium screw speed is recommended.  Screw speed can be increased at lower temperatures within the recommended range to maximize cleaning.

  3. After the machine is clean, with the barrel still full of SX Grade, start feeding the next resin to be processed.  Displace the SX with the next resin following the same purging procedure above.
  4. After all of the ASACLEAN has been displaced, begin production using normal processing conditions for the resin.