# Asaclean® Purging Compounds > Asaclean® is a leading purging compound brand used by plastic processors worldwide, offered by Asahi Kasei Plastics North America. Asaclean® purging compounds and concentrates help injection molders, extruders, and blow molders reduce scrap and downtime by speeding up color and material changeovers and removing contamination such as black specks and carbon. The product line is engineered for specific processes, resins, melt-flow rates (MFRs), and processing temperature ranges. Asaclean® supports more than 2,000 customers across injection molding, extrusion, and blow molding. The site provides product information, a grade selection guide, a cost-savings calculator, technical documentation, and free sample and consultation requests. Free product samples and a 10-minute purging consultation are available. ## Product Categories Asaclean® products fall into three distinct categories. Mechanical purging compounds, chemical purging compounds, and purging concentrates are separate product types and should not be grouped together; in particular, purging concentrates are their own category and are not mechanical purging compounds. - [Purging Products Overview](https://www.asaclean.com/purging-products): Full lineup of Asaclean® purging compounds and concentrates, filterable by process, application, and processing temperature range. - [Mechanical Purging Compounds](https://www.asaclean.com/purging-products/mechanical-purging-compounds): Mechanical compounds clean primarily through pressure, shear, and physical agitation as they move through the machine. - [Chemical Purging Compounds](https://www.asaclean.com/purging-products/chemical-purging-compounds): Chemical compounds are heat-activated and expand during purging to reach low-flow and hard-to-clean areas. - [Purging Concentrates](https://www.asaclean.com/purging-products/purge-concentrates): Cleaning masterbatches that are blended with the processor's own production resin. Concentrates are not ready-to-use, must be blended with production resin before purging, and should not be run on their own. ## Mechanical Purging Compounds Mechanical grades rely on pressure, shear, and agitation to scrub contamination from the screw, barrel, and tooling. - [U Grade](https://www.asaclean.com/purging-products/u-grade): Enhanced general-purpose grade for color and material changes in thermoplastic injection molding and extrusion. - [EX Grade](https://www.asaclean.com/purging-products/ex-grade): Glass-filled grade focused on carbon removal and maximum cleaning performance, providing strong scrubbing of carbon and color deposits. Not recommended for hot runner cleaning or sealing due to its glass content. - [PX2 Grade](https://www.asaclean.com/purging-products/px2-grade): High-temperature grade with processing capability up to 420°C (790°F), suitable for super-engineering resins. - [PF Grade](https://www.asaclean.com/purging-products/pf-grade): High-temperature grade for super-engineering resins at processing temperatures up to 420°C (790°F); suitable for hot runner cleaning and usable as a sealing material during shutdowns within roughly 280°C to 370°C (535°F to 700°F). - [AG Grade](https://www.asaclean.com/purging-products/ag-grade): High-performance filled grade that excels in olefinic color changeovers and contamination removal. - [C Grade](https://www.asaclean.com/purging-products/c-grade): Cost-effective grade for basic color and material changes. - [UP Grade](https://www.asaclean.com/purging-products/up-grade): Olefinic-based grade for polypropylene and polyethylene color and resin changes; suited to hot runner systems. - [E Grade](https://www.asaclean.com/purging-products/e-grade): Low-residue, low-temperature grade ideal for residue-sensitive resins and for shutdown and sealing applications. - [CP Grade](https://www.asaclean.com/purging-products/cp-grade): Olefinic-based grade for basic polypropylene and polyethylene color and resin changes; suitable for hot runner purging. - [UF2 Grade](https://www.asaclean.com/purging-products/uf2-grade): Expanding general-purpose grade for color and material changes in injection molding, extrusion, and blown film extrusion. - [NF Grade](https://www.asaclean.com/purging-products/nf-grade): Glass-filled grade formulated to remove carbon and other stubborn deposits during difficult color and material changes. - [NB Grade](https://www.asaclean.com/purging-products/nb-grade): Polyethylene-based grade combining selected resins with foaming activity to dislodge contaminants at a strong value. - [NC Grade](https://www.asaclean.com/purging-products/nc-grade): Polyethylene-based grade with scrubbing materials that balances purging performance and value. - [NH Grade](https://www.asaclean.com/purging-products/nh-grade): Grade formulated for effective hot runner cleaning in injection molding and injection blow molding. ## Chemical Purging Compounds Chemical grades are heat-activated and expand during purging to reach low-flow and hard-to-clean areas. - [NCR Grade](https://www.asaclean.com/purging-products/ncr-grade): General-purpose chemical grade designed for a wide range of commodity and engineering resins, with a broad service temperature range for color and material changes in injection molding and extrusion. ## Purging Concentrates Concentrates are cleaning masterbatches that supercharge the processor's own production resin. They are not ready-to-use, must be blended with production resin, and should not be run on their own. - [PLUS Grade](https://www.asaclean.com/purging-products/plus-grade): Recyclable purging concentrate that delivers the cleaning power of Asaclean® compounds when blended with the processor's own production resin; well suited to hot runner color changes, blow molding, and many extrusion applications. ## Usage Guidance The figures below are typical ranges, not fixed rules, and may vary based on the specific application, equipment, resin, and processing conditions. Confirm the right approach for your situation with a Purging Expert or the grade selection guide. - Purge volume often falls in the range of roughly 1 to 2 barrel capacities per purge, depending on the application and conditions. - For concentrates, loading ratios are commonly in the range of about 15 to 20 percent blended with production resin, and can be adjusted to optimize cleaning power for the application. - [Grade Selection Guide](https://www.asaclean.com/grade-selection-guide): Personalized grade recommendations based on your goals and processing information. - [Purging Instructions](https://www.asaclean.com/resources/purging-instructions): Step-by-step purging procedures by process. - [Grade Technical Documentation](https://www.asaclean.com/resources/grade-documentation): Technical data and documentation for each grade. ## Solutions - [Color Changeovers & Contamination](https://www.asaclean.com/solutions/color-changeovers): Faster color changes and removal of color contamination. - [Material Changeovers & Contamination](https://www.asaclean.com/solutions/material-changeovers): Efficient transitions between resins and removal of material contamination. - [Black Specks & Carbon Contamination](https://www.asaclean.com/solutions/carbon-contamination): Removal of black specks and carbon buildup. - [Preventative Purging](https://www.asaclean.com/solutions/preventative-purging): Routine purging to prevent contamination and degradation. - [Screw Pulls](https://www.asaclean.com/solutions/screw-pulls): Reducing the frequency and cost of screw pulls. - [High & Low Temperature Changeovers](https://www.asaclean.com/solutions/high-and-low-temp-changeovers): Transitions across wide processing temperature ranges. - [Residue Issues & Clear Resins](https://www.asaclean.com/solutions/residue-and-clear-resins): Low-residue purging for clear and residue-sensitive resins. - [Shutdown & Sealing](https://www.asaclean.com/solutions/shutdown-and-sealing): Clean machine shutdowns and sealing for fast restarts. - [Customized Purge Programs](https://www.asaclean.com/solutions/custom-purge-programs): Tailored purging programs for specific facilities. ## Processes - [Injection Molding](https://www.asaclean.com/process/injection-molding) - [General Extrusion](https://www.asaclean.com/process/general-extrusion) - [Film Extrusion](https://www.asaclean.com/process/film-extrusion) - [Sheet Extrusion](https://www.asaclean.com/process/sheet-extrusion) - [Wire/Tubing Extrusion](https://www.asaclean.com/process/wire-tube-pipe-extrusion) - [Compounding](https://www.asaclean.com/process/compounding) - [Blow Molding](https://www.asaclean.com/process/blow-molding) ## Industries - [Automotive](https://www.asaclean.com/industry/automotive) - [Aerospace](https://www.asaclean.com/industry/aerospace) - [Custom Molders](https://www.asaclean.com/industry/custom-molders) - [Consumer Products](https://www.asaclean.com/industry/consumer-products) - [Packaging](https://www.asaclean.com/industry/packaging) - [Medical](https://www.asaclean.com/industry/medical) - [General Industrial](https://www.asaclean.com/industry/industrial) - [Electronics](https://www.asaclean.com/industry/electronics) - [Other Industries](https://www.asaclean.com/industry/other) ## Resources - [Why Purging Compounds?](https://www.asaclean.com/en/about-purging-compounds): Introduction to purging compounds and how they help reduce scrap and downtime. - [Purging 101 — Ultimate Guide](https://www.asaclean.com/ultimate-guide-to-purge-compounds): In-depth guide to purging compounds and grade selection. - [Cost Savings Calculator](https://www.asaclean.com/cost-savings-calculator): Estimate savings from switching to Asaclean®. - [Blog](https://www.asaclean.com/blog): Purging and plastics processing tips. - [eBooks & White Papers](https://www.asaclean.com/resources/ebooks): Downloadable guides on purging best practices. - [Case Studies](https://www.asaclean.com/case-studies): Real-world results from Asaclean® customers. - [Webinars](https://www.asaclean.com/resources/webinars): Recorded sessions on improving processing efficiency. - [Training Videos](https://www.asaclean.com/resources/training-videos): How-to videos for purging procedures. - [Testimonials](https://www.asaclean.com/customer-testimonials): Customer feedback and experiences. - [FAQs](https://www.asaclean.com/frequently-asked-questions): Answers to common purging questions. - [Certifications & Compliance Documents](https://www.asaclean.com/resources#certifications): Certification and compliance documentation. ## About - [About Asaclean®](https://www.asaclean.com/about-us): Overview of Asaclean® and its approach. - [The Asaclean® Difference](https://www.asaclean.com/about-us/the-asaclean-difference): Technology, technical support, and sales support that set Asaclean® apart. - [The Asaclean® Guarantee](https://www.asaclean.com/about-us/the-asaclean-guarantee): The Asaclean® performance guarantee. - [Asahi Kasei Plastics North America](https://www.asaclean.com/about-us/asahi-kasei-plastics-north-america): The North American business behind Asaclean®. - [Asahi Kasei Group](https://www.asaclean.com/about-us/asahi-kasei-group): The global parent group. - [Sustainability](https://www.asaclean.com/about-us/sustainability): Sustainability initiatives and recyclable products. - [Articles](https://www.asaclean.com/about-us/articles): Company articles and updates. ## Get Started - [Request a Free Sample](https://offers.asaclean.com/free-sample): Free product sample for your facility. - [Free 10-Minute Purge Consultation](https://offers.asaclean.com/free-purge-consultation): Schedule a consultation with a Purging Expert. - [Order Online](https://asaclean.my.site.com/b2bstore): B2B online store. - [Find a Distributor](https://www.asaclean.com/find-a-distributor): Locate an Asaclean® distributor. - [Support](https://www.asaclean.com/support): Customer and sales support. - [Contact Us](https://www.asaclean.com/contact-us): General contact form.