PURGING COMPOUNDS | MAINTENANCE
Compounders find the urge to purge
Traditionally focused on the injection moulding market, manufacturers of commercial purging compounds now see compounding as a significant growth area. Mark Holmes reports
Frequent material and colour changeovers, as well as the need to reduce scrap and minimise down- time, are key factors encouraging compounders to use commercial purging compounds (CPCs) to help them keep their extruders running at maximum productivity and efficiency. Manufacturers of CPCs — which have traditionally focused their products at injection moulders — are now developing products that address compounding needs specifically and providing guidance and training that promotes their benefits over ‘in-house’ alternatives. “Most injection moulders are aware that CPCs
exist, and most have explored this option to reduce scrap and downtime,” says Andrew Reeder, Sales Manager Thermoplastics at Chem-Trend North America. “CPC manufacturers are now engineering products for other types of plastic processors so
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they can also benefit from reducing downtime and scrap as injection moulders have for many years. Growth areas for CPCs are forecasted for a variety of industries, such as compounding/masterbatch, blown film, extrusion and blow moulding. These types of plastic processors will continue to see more viable CPC options for their purging needs. In many areas, compounding and masterbatch
production companies have very similar needs as injection moulders. “Chem-Trend has focused on developing a purge compound that reduces the downtime and scrap for colour changes, carbon removal and material changes in the compounding and masterbatch industries,” says Reeder. “Addi- tionally, the Chem-Trend purge compound also significantly reduces the labour required when pulling and cleaning a screw.”
Main image: Purging
compounds such as Ultra Purge 3615 from Chem Trend are being specifically formulated for compounding applications
� December 2023 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 47
IMAGE: CHEM-TREND NORTH AMERICA
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