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ASACLEAN EXTRUSION PURGING INSTRUCTIONS for removal of high heat resins for pre-maintenance cleaning (Above 680°F, 360°C )

Screens and dies may be left in place for purging with the ASACLEAN SX.
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.

  1. Upon completion of the production run, extrude the high heat resin from the machine, emptying the barrel.  Clean the hopper and feed throat.
  2. Feed about 1 barrel capacity of ASACLEAN SX into the hopper.
  3. Begin to drop the temperatures in the extruder to below 700°F (370°C) while purging with the ASACLEAN SX.  ASACLEAN SX should not be left at temperatures above 700°F for more than 30 minutes as decomposition may occur.
  4. Start purging at low screw speed.  After the ASACLEAN SX starts coming out of extruder, increase the screw speed to a moderate safe level.  Several times during the purge, stop the screw and allow the ASACLEAN to sit for about 30 seconds.  Resume the screw rotation up to moderate screw speed.  If resin contamination is still visible in the purge pile, repeat steps 2-4 until clean.
  5. When all temperatures are below 700°F (370°C) stop the screw.  Leave the barrel completely full of ASACLEAN SX to prevent oxygen from entering the barrel. Add more ASACLEAN SX  if necessary to fill barrel.  Oxygen will accelerate material decomposition and carbon formation.
  6. Continue to drop all of the temperatures in the system to between 600°F – 620°F (315°C – 325°C).  Do not allow the temperatures in the extruder to drop below 570°F (300°C) with ASACLEAN SX in the barrel as overloading of the screw may occur when screw rotation resumes.
  7. Begin feeding ASACLEAN EX at a slow screw speed into the extruder to remove deposits from the screw and barrel and to make it easier to pull the screw.  Follow the standard “ASACLEAN PURGING INSTRUCTIONS for PRE-MAINTENANCE CLEANING and SCREW PULL.”  An unfilled grade of ASACLEAN, such as ASACLEAN U, can be used to clean the screw and barrel, instead of the EX grade, but may not be as effective at removing stubborn deposits.