New purge compound for high PVC temperatures
However, Ducafreeze, the latest high performance PVC compound developed by Dugdale, has "rewritten the script," says the Sowerby Bridge-based firm.
Using new generation stabiliser technology the company has developed a new freeze compound with elevated temperature resistance, making it suitable for use as a freeze or purge compound in rigid and flexible PVC materials across a wide range of applications.
Conventional non-lead purge and freeze compounds have thermal stability limitations which render them unsuitable for use in high end rigid PVC applications where processing temperatures can exceed 200˚C.
Ducafreeze can be used to purge material in the die while processing plant temperatures are being reduced. It can also be left in the tooling and machine for extended periods. On start-up the temperature is increased allowing Ducafreeze to be purged through using standard material - saving both time and resources as the die does not need to be stripped down and cleaned. This has the knock-on benefit of reducing wear and the risk of damage to tooling caused by continuous disassembly, cleaning and reassembly.
Alternatively, says Dugdale, Ducafreeze can be used as a conventional purge material that when cooled is easily removed from metal surfaces and intricate die flow paths - again minimising the potential for tooling damage.
Suitable for use on both extrusion and injection moulding equipment, Ducafreeze has the flexibility to provide a purging solution for all rigid and flexible PVC processors while its robust temperature performance will appeal to trade extruders and producers of window profile, pipe and products for the building and construction industries.
Ducafreeze is supplied in pellet form and coloured blue as standard for identification purposes but other colours may be available on request.