Colorgon From Tech Sales Co

Cleaning compound that functions on the unique chemistry of the phenoxy molecule. Formulated to clean and polish mold and extrusion machines to make turn-around time faster, reduce rejects and improve machine utilization.

When truly different products are developed they can make a Grandfathered manufacturing procedure become uneconomical, a bottle neck. COLORGON™ has made the traditional purge procedure such a bottle neck.

COLORGON™ is designed to increase plastics extrusion and molding productivity and quality. COLORGON™ targets loss of machine utilization and product quality during color, material and mold changes - When Minutes Matter!

The basis of COLORGON™ is its phenoxy resin. Phenoxy has very high affinity for certain pigments. When alloyed with other selected materials the range and breadth of organic and inorganic pigments that fix to COLORGON™ is enormous.

COLORGON™ combines the chemistries of each alloyed component so that mechanisms like covalent, ionic and hydrogen bonding amplify the ability of COLORGON™ to purge plastic materials from extruders and molding machines. Its rheology is tuned for purge applications by its blended mineral content. The minerals also polish metal surfaces without abrasion. COLORGON™ wets surfaces and its drag coefficient pulls molten polymers from barrels and screws.

When minutes matter, when rejects are counted, when more for less is demanded, COLORGON™ is tried, tested and purpose designed to take cost out of plastics production.

COLORGON™ Brochure

COLORGON™ LITE

Description: Moderate Phenoxy and Moderate Mineral Content

COLORGON™ is supplied in 55 lb (25 kg) bags. The compound is indefinitely stable in unopened containers when stored at normal temperatures and kept dry.

Consult the product MSDS for additional information on properties, hazards and handling.

Physical form: small pellet
Bulk density: 45 pounds / ft3
Color: gray / brown
Use rate: 4 lbs per inch diameter

COLORGON™ BRITE

Description: COLORGON™ is supplied in 55 lb (25 kg) bags. The compound is indefinitely stable in unopened containers when stored at normal temperatures and kept dry.

Consult the product MSDS for additional information on properties, hazards and handling.

Physical form: small pellet
Bulk density: 45 pounds / ft3
Color: gray / brown
Use rate: 4 lbs per inch diameter

COLORGON™ SUPERBRITE

Description: COLORGON™ is supplied in 55 lb (25 kg) bags. The compound is indefinitely stable in unopened containers when stored at normal temperatures and kept dry.

Consult the product MSDS for additional information on properties, hazards and handling.

Physical form: small pellet
Bulk density: 45 pounds / ft3
Color: gray / brown
Use rate: 4 lbs per inch diameter

AVAILABLE GRADES OF COLORGON™

COLORGON™	Formulation	Application	Duty	Recommendations
LITE	Moderate Phenoxy Content	Normal intensity, whites & light colors	Good color removal. Buffing/polishing action.	Good for frequent use, regular applications.
BRITE	High Phenoxy Content	Heavy tincture, blacks & intense colors.	Tough duty color removal. Buffing/polishing action.	Better for intensely pigmented composites and to polish out residuals.
SUPERBRITE	High Phenoxy and High Mineral Content	Intense colors when residual color or burnt carbon deposits must be removed.	Tough duty color and deposits removal. Polishing action.	Best for both color removal & polishing.

For initial selection we recommend:

• Review COLORGON™ Technical Data Sheets.


• Ensure that your operating or purge temperature range is within the tolerance of COLORGON™ specifications.


• Then determine the type of purge job you require.
  
  
• Frequent use or light / neutral color removal. Relatively clean barrel and screw conditions.
  • Use COLORGON™Lite
  
  
• Darker pigmented plastics, heavier contamination, Some polishing required.
• Use COLORGON™Brite


• Dark colors, removal of carbon build-up, cleaning and polishing required.
• Use COLORGON™SuperBrite

COLORGON™ Cleaning Compound

Instructions For Using COLORGON™

1. VERIFY that the temperature of each heating zone is at an appropriate level (at least 350°F / 175°C but not above 560°F / 255°C).
2. EMPTY the machine of the production resin as thoroughly as possible; if backpressure and screw speed are adjustable you can use maximum backpressure and high screw speed to empty the barrel most effectively. Results may be enhanced by pre-flushing the machine with clean natural resin, if you choose to pre-flush.
3. LOAD the hopper with the required amount of COLORGON™ Cleaning Compound. In a typical purging situation about 4 pounds of COLORGON™ per diameter inch of extruder and adjust as conditions dictate.
4. FILL the barrel with COLORGON™ Cleaning Compound by rotating the screw. For best results, keep the reciprocating screw forward, and backpressure at maximum. Use normal screw RPM until COLORGON™ begins to emerge from the nozzle - then increase to maximum safe RPM.
5. PURGE the system empty of COLORGON™, when the material emerging from the nozzle is almost clean. Do this by dropping the backpressure (if raised) to normal level and performing high velocity purge shots. If the machine was heavily contaminated, and contamination is visible as the last of the COLORGON™ empties from the machine, repeat steps 3 through 5.
6. RUN new production material through the system until all traces of COLORGON™ are removed. Removal will be most thorough and efficient if maximum backpressure and maximum safe screw RPM are used. Then, begin production.


Instructions For Use In Injection Molding Equipment
(Conventional reciprocating screw injection molding systems. If equipped with hot runner systems, see notes)

All thermoplastics processed at temperatures between 350°F and 560°F (175° and 255°C). For elevated temperatures see notes.

Instructions to Clean Hot Manifold

1. EMPTY the system of the production resin as thoroughly as possible. Results may be enhanced by pre-flushing the machine with clean natural resin.
2. RAISE the manifold temperature 200°F if the temperature is at or below 400°F, provided this can be done without exceeding temperature limitations of the equipment or the materials involved. Otherwise, leave heat at operating temperature.
3. PRE-PURGE the screw and barrel (while retracted from the mold). Then, move the screw and barrel back to the mold.
4. LOAD the hopper with the required amount of COLORGON™ Cleaning Compound. Start with 4 lbs. per inch of barrel diameter.
5. INJECT COLORGON™ through the manifold, ejecting the parts immediately while warm. De-molding of the purge material may be easier if a mold release is used and shot size is reduced. Continue until COLORGON™ parts are visually free from color and /or carbon contamination. Then, inject parts until the system runs empty.
6. PURGE the residual COLORGON™; from the system by running the next production resin, molding parts until no COLORGON™ can be detected. Then restore any changed temperature settings and resume normal production.


ADDITIONAL NOTES AND INFORMATION

NOTE 1 - ELEVATED TEMPERATURES
It is recommended that you avoid subjecting COLORGON™ Cleaning Compound to temperatures above 560°F / 255°C. In this thermal environment some polymers used in COLORGON™ may begin to decompose and release irritant vapors. This should not be an issue if exposure to temperatures near 560°F / 255°C is brief (a few minutes). For regular use with materials processed above 560°F / 255°C, contact InChem Corp. to discuss alternative products.

NOTE 2 - PRE-FLUSHING
For some difficult changeovers, results may be enhanced by pre-flushing with clean natural resin before loading the cleaning compound. This will push most of the residual production resin out of the machine. If you choose to pre-flush, use resin as stiff as, or stiffer than the production resin that is being displaced and of a resin type similar to either the initial or succeeding production resin. Flush at least one full system volume of material - but no more than 8 lbs per diameter inch of extruder - through the system.

NOTE 3 - NOZZLE AND CHECK RING HANG-UP
Occasionally color or degraded resin particles will hang up stubbornly in the nozzle or check ring area. This should be addressed with modest use of heat and increased agitation. If the nozzle is the problem, raise the temperature of the nozzle to 500°F / 300°C. If the check ring is the source of the problem, drop the backpressure and with the screw rotating, retract it in quick "pulses" to lift the check ring and dislodge the contamination. In both instances, follow up with short high-pressure purge shots to complete cleaning.

NOTE 4 - OPEN MOLD PURGING OF HOT MANIFOLDS
If system design permits, a hot manifold may be purged by extruding COLORGON™ through the mold at a safe velocity with little or not backpressure, using maximum safe screw RPM.

NOTE 5 - GRADE SELECTION
COLORGON™ contains an additive package and is available in three concentrations. The additive gives the product additional "scrubbing" effectiveness for difficult changeovers, but extensive use over a long period may cause eventual wear in soft metal finishes. InChem Corp. recommends use of the lower additive grade where: 1) the more aggressive nature of the additive may cause concern, 2) the equipment has narrow passages (less than 0.04 in. (1.0 mm)) that might become blocked, or 3) the next production resin is of such low viscosity (e.g., flexible PVC, LOPE, etc.) that removal of a filled cleaning compound could be difficult.

NOTE 6 - OPERATING PRINCIPLES
COLORGON™ gains its purging effectiveness from three factors:

1. The proprietary formulation works in combination with a high level of agitation during the purging process to dislodge contaminants.
2. The formula includes resins and other ingredients that are effective in providing mechanical "push" over a wide temperature range. These resins also "wet-out" pigments very efficiently, thus resulting in short clean cycles.
3. The additive in COLORGON™ Cleaning Compound causes it to be much less tenacious than other resins of similar viscosity in its adhesion to internal metal surfaces.

NOTE 7 - TIPS
1. COLORGON™ should not be allowed to cool inside the barrel. When solid COLORGON™ is very difficult to remove due to its tackiness which on solidifying can become very adhesive.
2. After purging with COLORGON™ and prior to shutting down a machine or allowing it to cool, COLORGON™ must be removed from the machine to facilitate easier restart. For this procedure:
a. While the system is still at purging temperature continue to run the screw until no more COLORGON™ is extruded.
b. Chase COLORGON™ out of the system using a virgin polymer such as polypropylene.
c. Continue to run the virgin polymer out of the system until no more is extruded.
d. Follow your normal shut down procedure from this point.