Why Choose Purging Compounds Instead of Resins?

Why Choose Purging Compounds Instead of Resins?

Manufacturing processes often become high-speed and accurate through injection molding or extrusion. However, one of the most critical aspects that frequently goes overlooked is the cleaning process between runs in production. Where resins once dominated this process, developments have created purging compounds as a far superior solution. Whether the facility does a color change, material change-over, or difficult residue, Ultra Purge™ by Chem-Trend provides unparalleled production efficiency while reducing downtime to the barest minimum.

This article outlines the significance of purging compounds over resins and helps you understand their uses and how to select the best solution for your needs.

 

What is a Purging Compound?

A purging compound is a specialized cleaning material designed specifically for injection molding, extrusion machines, and other plastics processing equipment. Unlike resins, which are primarily raw materials for manufacturing, purging compounds are formulated to clean residual plastic, pigments, and contaminants like black spots and silver streaking from machine components such as barrels, screws, and hot runners.

Ultra Purge™ liquid purging compounds, for instance, excel at cleaning intricate systems such as hot runners and effectively remove heavy buildup. Injection molding purging compounds like Ultra Purge™ are best for routine cleaning tasks and challenging applications, including transitioning between incompatible materials or dealing with color contamination.

 

Why Not Use Resins as Cleaning Agents?

Traditionally, manufacturers have used regrind or virgin resins to clean machines, but this approach has several disadvantages:

• Inefficiency: Resins lack the strength needed to effectively remove tough residues, resulting in longer cleaning cycles and more waste.

• Risks of Cross-Contamination: Plastic residue or pigments left behind can cause defective products.

• Higher Costs: Although resins may seem cheap initially, the material wasted and time lost during cleaning offset any savings.

• Limited Application: Resins cannot be used to clean hot runners or remove carbon buildup from stubborn contaminants.

Ultra Purge™ resolves all these issues with efficiency and consistency.

 

Advantages of Purging Compounds

• Superior Cleaning Power
  Purging compounds are formulated to clean deeply while leaving minimal residue. For example, Ultra Purge™ liquid purging compounds clean small channels in hot runner systems and completely remove contaminants like pigments and polymers.

• Less Material Waste
  Resins usually require many cycles of cleaning to achieve the desired effect, resulting in a lot of waste. Ultra Purge™ does the cleaning process faster and with more efficiency, thereby reducing waste and saving costs.

• Time Saved
  Excessive time spent on cleaning becomes a major operational drawback. Excellent solutions such as Ultra Purge™ reduce cleaning time, thus allowing production to resume faster and become more productive overall.

• Versatility
  Ultra Purge™ works well with all kinds of polymers, operating temperatures, and equipment designs. Popular hot runner producers support it, making it possible to consider Ultra Purge™ for:

• • • Frequent cleaning cycles
    • Color changes
    • Material transitions
    • Removing black spots and silver streaking

• Preventive Maintenance
  Routine use of Ultra Purge™ ensures the absence of contamination, allowing your equipment to operate longer and according to schedule. 

How Purging Compounds Outperform Resins

• Clean Color Changes
  Resin-based formulations often bring a residue into color changes, especially when lightening shades, resulting in defective products. Ultra Purge™ provides a clean change every time by eliminating all trace colorings.

• Removing Tough Residues
  Even the most difficult-to-clean black spots due to carbon buildup don’t stand a chance. Formulated in chemical and glass-filled forms, Ultra Purge™ can handle the toughest residues, restoring equipment to its best possible condition.

• Wide Compatibility of Materials
  Unlike resins, Ultra Purge™ is designed for high-temperature or mixed-material systems. Its flexibility ensures effective cleaning without damaging the equipment irrespective of the operating environment. 

Purging Compounds Types

• Mechanical Purges:
  These contain abrasive agents used to clean machine interiors. They work well in low cleaning cases but can be too abrasive for delicate operations.

• Chemical Purges:
  These use active agents that break hard residues for effective functionality in high-temperature operations and black spots removal.

• Glass-Filled Purges:
  Add glass fibers for difficult-to-remove contaminants. These are ideal for tough buildup but must be used judiciously to avoid damaging the equipment.

• Liquid Purging Compounds:
  For intricate systems, such as hot runners, these compounds are designed to flow and remove contaminants from difficult-to-access locations with precision. Ultra Purge™ liquid purging compounds lead in these applications.

Selecting the Correct Purging Compound

When choosing a purging compound, consider these factors:

• Resin Compatibility: To ensure compatibility with your resin, Ultra Purge™ works with a broad range of polymers.

• Contamination Level: To get rid of severe contamination, black spots typically require chemical or glass-filled compounds.

• Cleaning Objectives: For complex systems such as hot runners, use liquid purging compounds.

• Color Change Requirements: If color change occurs frequently in the production line, opt for a formulation that allows effective removal of pigments.

• Residue Control: Applications like food packaging require low-residue compounds. Ultra Purge™ meets these stringent requirements.

• Cost Efficiency: Although the compounds may appear more expensive than their counterparts, they save significant time and material with minimal downtime. 

Why Choose Ultra Purge™?

Partnering with Chem-Trend gives you access to Ultra Purge™, a trusted solution designed to meet your specific cleaning needs. Recommended by industry leaders, Ultra Purge™ combines superior performance with sustainability by:

• Reduction in material waste
• Maximization of operational efficiency
• Minimization of scrap and contribution toward sustainable manufacturing processes

 Switching to Ultra Purge™ can transform your production process by ensuring superior cleaning, faster cycles, and reduced material waste.

• Visit Chem-Trend’s Ultra Purge™ webpage to explore more.
• Request a Free Sample to experience the benefits firsthand.
• Consult Chem-Trend’s experts to identify the best purging solution tailored to your specific needs