Purging compounds are one of the most effective tools plastics processors can use to reduce scrap, shorten changeovers, and remove contamination from processing equipment. But not every application is the same.
Some changeovers are especially difficult. Some resins are sensitive. Some systems have hot runners, dies, manifolds, or complex flow paths that make cleaning more challenging. In other cases, processors want the cleaning power of a commercial purging compound while still using their own production resin as the carrier.
That is where purging concentrates can be a smart solution.
Asaclean® PLUS Grade is a high-performance purging concentrate designed to be blended with a processor’s own production resin. It gives processors another option when traditional purging methods are not delivering the results they need, especially in challenging applications where contamination, color hang-up, or downtime can quickly become expensive.
What Is a Purging Concentrate?
A purging concentrate is a concentrated cleaning product that is mixed with a compatible production resin before being processed through the machine.
Unlike a ready-to-use purging compound, a concentrate is not intended to be run by itself. Instead, it is blended at a recommended ratio with the resin selected for the application. This allows the processor to use their own material as the carrier while adding the cleaning power of the concentrate.
For many processors, this can be especially useful when they want to improve cleaning performance while maintaining more control over the resin being pushed through the barrel, screw, hot runner, die, or downstream equipment.
Why Use a Purging Concentrate?
Most processors turn to purging products for the same reasons: they want to reduce scrap, shorten downtime, avoid contamination, and get back into production faster.
A purging concentrate can be especially useful when the application is difficult, sensitive, or costly to clean.
Common situations include:
- Difficult color changes
- Stubborn contamination
- Hot runner cleaning
- High-cavitation tooling
- Extrusion die cleaning
- Blow molding changeovers
- Clear or natural resin applications
- Material transitions where residue is a concern
- Processes where the customer wants to use their own production resin as the carrier
In these situations, a concentrate can help “super-charge” the production resin used during the purge. Instead of relying on resin alone to push contamination out of the system, the processor can use a concentrated purging additive designed specifically to improve cleaning performance.
Where Purging Concentrates Can Make the Biggest Difference
Some applications are easy to purge. Others are not.
If a machine has simple flow paths, low contamination risk, and routine color changes, a standard purging compound may be the best fit. But when material gets trapped in dead spots, hot runners, dies, or complex tooling, processors may need a more targeted solution.
Purging concentrates are often a strong option for processors dealing with:
Hot Runner Color Changes
Hot runners can be difficult to clean because material can remain trapped in manifolds, drops, tips, and other areas of the system. This can lead to color streaks, delayed start-ups, and extended scrap runs.
Asaclean PLUS Grade can be blended with production resin to help clean difficult hot runner systems and reduce the amount of time spent waiting for old color or contamination to disappear.
Extrusion Die Cleaning
In extrusion, contamination can build up in dies, adapters, screen packs, and other areas where flow is more difficult to control. This is especially problematic for processors running film, sheet, profile, tubing, or other applications where visual defects can lead to rejected product.
A purging concentrate can help improve cleaning while allowing the processor to choose the resin used as the carrier.
Blow Molding Changeovers
Blow molding applications can create unique purging challenges because of material flow, head design, parison control, and the need to maintain consistent output. A purging concentrate may help processors clean more effectively during material or color changes while reducing the amount of scrap generated during start-up.
Clear and Natural Applications
Clear and natural resin applications leave very little room for error. Even small amounts of contamination, carbon, or previous color can cause rejected parts.
Because purging concentrates are blended with the processor’s selected resin, they may be useful in applications where residue control and resin compatibility are especially important.
Benefits of Asaclean® PLUS Grade Purging Concentrate
Asaclean PLUS Grade was developed for processors looking for strong cleaning performance in difficult applications. It offers many of the benefits processors expect from Asaclean purging products, while giving them the flexibility of blending with their own production resin.
Potential benefits include:
- Strong cleaning performance for difficult applications
- Ability to blend with a processor’s own production resin
- Useful for color changes and contamination removal
- Helpful for hot runners, extrusion dies, and blow molding systems
- Reduced scrap during changeovers and start-ups
- Reduced downtime compared with resin-only purging
- Potential inventory simplification versus stocking multiple purge grades
- Recyclability in many applications, depending on the resin system and process
For plants that run many resins, colors, or processes, this flexibility can be a major advantage. Rather than relying only on production resin or stocking several different purge options for different jobs, processors may be able to use one concentrate across a range of applications when properly blended and approved for the process.
Purging Concentrate vs. Purging Compound: Which Is Right for You?
There is no single best purge for every application.
Ready-to-use purging compounds are often the simplest choice. They are pre-formulated and designed to be run directly through the machine according to the recommended instructions. For many injection molding, extrusion, and blow molding applications, this is the fastest and easiest option.
Purging concentrates are different. They are designed to be mixed with another resin before use. This gives processors more flexibility, but it also means the blend ratio, carrier resin, processing temperature, and procedure matter.
A purging concentrate may be the better choice when:
- You want to use your own production resin as the carrier
- You are dealing with a difficult color or material change
- You have contamination that resin-only purging cannot remove
- You are cleaning hot runners, dies, or complex flow paths
- You want strong cleaning performance with added blending flexibility
- You are trying to simplify purge inventory across multiple applications
A ready-to-use purging compound may be better when:
- You want the simplest possible purge procedure
- You need a pre-formulated grade for a specific resin or temperature range
- Your operators prefer a direct, easy-to-feed product
- Your current purge program already delivers consistent results
The best choice depends on your process, resin, equipment, goals, and changeover challenges.
How to Get Better Results with Purging Concentrates
To get the best results from a purging concentrate, processors should follow the recommended purging procedure and avoid treating the concentrate like a ready-to-use compound.
A few best practices include:
- Blend the concentrate with the recommended production resin
- Use the correct let-down ratio for the application
- Do not feed the concentrate by itself unless specifically instructed
- Match the carrier resin to the process and temperature range
- Allow enough soak time when needed
- Purge at the recommended screw speed and processing conditions
- Document the procedure so operators can repeat successful results
- Contact an Asaclean Purging Expert for help with difficult applications
Purging success is not just about the product. It is also about the procedure. The right grade, blend, temperature, and purge method can make a major difference in performance.
A Flexible Option for Difficult Purging Challenges
Processors are under constant pressure to reduce downtime, limit scrap, improve quality, and keep production moving. When changeovers are slow or contamination keeps coming back, resin-only purging can cost far more than it saves.
Asaclean PLUS Grade Purging Concentrate gives processors a flexible way to improve cleaning performance while using their own production resin as the carrier. For difficult color changes, hot runner systems, extrusion dies, blow molding applications, and sensitive clear or natural jobs, it can be a powerful addition to a purge program.
If your team is struggling with long changeovers, recurring contamination, or hard-to-clean equipment, a purging concentrate may be the right next step.
Need Help Choosing the Right Purge?
Every process is different. The best purging solution depends on your resin, equipment, temperatures, color changes, contamination issues, and production goals.
Talk to an Asaclean Purging Expert to determine whether PLUS Grade Purging Concentrate or another Asaclean purging compound is the right fit for your application.
Interested in Trying Asaclean PLUS Grade?
Asaclean PLUS Grade is designed to thrive in some of the most difficult processing situations. If you’d like to request a free on-site trial and processor training session like Ray’s team, request a free 10 minute purging consultation here, and schedule your trial of Asaclean™ PLUS Grade today.
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