Additive for cleaning
of extrusion dies

In the aluminium industry, the extrusion dies are regularly cleaned by heating caustic soda baths, the aluminium scraps trapped into the die body are brought into solution through an exothermic reaction. This process involves the consumption of significant amounts of soda ash, which must be dismissed of at the end of the cleaning bath’s life cycle. The corrosiveness of soda ash combined with high operating temperatures close or above to 100°C generate corrosive and dangerous fumes, and furthermore, the formation of sodium aluminate fouling, implies continuous maintenance work, which is complicated by the corrosiveness of the liquid solution.

ALIT’s answer to this need is the additive CLARIS 9346 MB, entirely developed in our laboratories. Claris is an additive developed for the extrusion die cleaning systems for aluminium profiles; the liquid state easily allows automated dosing.

PRODUCT ANALISYS
The correct amount of soda ash, and the maximum aluminium content dissolved in the matrix cleaning bath can be accurately determined by simple chemical analysis, easily performed by process operators. If necessary, the amount of CLARIS 9346MB can also be determined by following the analysis instructions in the product data sheet.

The possibility to detect these values, along with the improved thermal stability of the bath after addition of Claris 9346 MB, will make the entire process easier to manage by the operator.

ADVANTAGES
It improves the general cleanliness of the extrusion die, facilitating the dissolution of aluminium residues that often gather in the most inaccessible points of the die.
It enhances the production of softer, pumpable sludge, thus preventing the formation of fouling in the matrix cleaning system.
It considerably increases the service life of the bath.
If appropriately dosed, it maintains the working temperature of the die-cleaning bath at around 90°C, thus reducing fumes emissions and evaporation consumption.
Maintaining the temperature in the process tank means an average energy savings of 20%.