Ideal for Blown Film, Cast Film, and Injection Molding Applications, UF2 Grade Purging Compound Facilitates Faster Changeovers with Less Scrap—Leading to Significant Savings

April, 30, 2018 - When Asaclean-Sun Plastech, Inc. exhibits at NPE 2018 this year, they will introduce their UF2 Grade to The Plastics Show for the first time. Asaclean is a leader purging compound for thermoplastic injection molders and extruders. According to the manufacturer, its recently-launched UF2 Grade purging compound is ideal for blown and cast film extrusion applications, as well as injection molding. The company says that, like all Asaclean products, UF2 Grade purging compound enables faster changeovers for reduced equipment downtime, resulting in increased productivity and cost savings for plastics manufacturers.

In order to increase efficiency and productivity, plastics processors need fast color and material changes, and effective removal of color and carbon contamination. According to Asaclean-Sun Plastech, Inc., UF2 grade purging compound achieves these objectives. It can be purged through a die, effectively removes gels and contamination that is not carbonized, and has excellent compatibility with PE resins, the company claims.

UF2 Grade purging compound is recommended for color changes, material changes, hot runner cleaning and shutdown/sealing. As with many Asaclen products, UF2 Grade Purging Compound does not work by chemical reaction, and no soak time or hold-up time is required for an effective purge. UF2 has a few unique characteristics that make it stand out for certain processors. Asaclean-Sun Plastech, Inc., for blown film applications, UF2 Grade purging compound also helps manufacturers “hold the bubble,” minimizing downtime to increase productivity. For blow molding application, UF2 helps hold the parison.

Recently, a customer cost-savings analysis of an extrusion polyethylene color change was performed on a machine with a 4.5” die and a barrel capacity of 50 pounds. Traditionally, the customer replaced black polyethylene with natural polyethylene for the next run. According to Asaclean-Sun Plastech, Inc., when the customer’s accustomed “next resin” purging method was replaced with Asaclean’s UF2 Grade, the results indicated a significant reduction of machine downtime due to faster changeover and less wasted material. The manufacturers claims that the 65% cost reduction amounted to a savings of more than $23,000 annually.

UF2 Grade has a temperature range of 170° Celsius–320° C (340° Fahrenheit–610° F) and requires a 0.0004” (0.01mm) clearance for hot runner gates and extrusion dies. UF2 grade can pass through as tight as 200-mesh extrusion screen packs when only one layer of mesh is used.

Asaclean is a leader in commercial purging compounds. Asaclean purges are optimized for injection molding, extrusion, film & sheet, blow-molding, & blown-film applications. Manufactured and distributed by Sun Plastech, Inc., Asaclean products are backed by the technology and resources of parent organization, Asahi Kasei Group.

Source: Asaclean