PEKUTHERM® ULT: Ultra-Low Temperature Purging for Injection Molding, Extrusion & Maintenance Operations (2026 Guide)
- UniTemp
- 6 hours ago
- 5 min read
Modern plastic processors are under constant pressure to reduce downtime, minimize scrap, improve changeover speed, and keep equipment running efficiently. For processors working with low-temperature materials such as silicone rubber, EPDM, specialty elastomers, and flexible engineering polymers, those challenges become even more difficult.
“Traditional purging compounds often struggle at lower processing temperatures. Many rely on carrier resins, chemical reactions, soaking procedures, or elevated heat ranges that may not align with sensitive low-temperature applications.” President and CEO, UniTemp, Bernd Krebs
PEKUTHERM® ULT was developed specifically to address those operational challenges.
Unlike chemical purging compounds or carrier-resin systems, PEKUTHERM® ULT is a mechanical purging compound that uses thermoelastic physical action to clean processing equipment during both production and maintenance operations.
PEKUTHERM® ULT is used across both injection molding and extrusion environments for:
• Preventative maintenance purges • Color changeovers • Material changeovers • Screw pull aid applications • Low-temperature elastomer processing • Flexible polymer transitions https://www.pekutherm.org
What Makes PEKUTHERM® ULT Different?
PEKUTHERM® ULT operates across an exceptionally broad low-temperature processing range:
175°F – 625°F (79°C – 330°C)
This ultra-low operating range allows processors to purge applications that many traditional purging compounds cannot effectively address.
PEKUTHERM® ULT is commonly used in processes involving:
• Silicone rubber • EPDM • Specialty elastomers • Flexible engineering polymers • Other low-temperature processing environments
Unlike many purge materials, PEKUTHERM® ULT does not rely on:
• Chemical reactions • Solvents • Abrasive additives • Carrier resin dilution • Soak time • Premixing procedures
Instead, PEKUTHERM® ULT softens into a thermoelastic, pencil-eraser-like consistency during processing. This creates a self-adhering “soft-scouring” plug that mechanically removes residual polymers, degraded material, color contamination, and carbon buildup from screw and barrel surfaces.
The purge exits the system while helping confirm machine cleanliness without excessive waste of incoming production material.
PEKUTHERM® ULT for Injection Molding
Injection molding operations frequently encounter downtime during:
• Color transitions • Resin changes • Carbon contamination events • Preventative maintenance cycles
Low-temperature materials can make these transitions even more difficult because processors often avoid excessive heat exposure that may damage sensitive materials or create additional degradation.
PEKUTHERM® ULT allows injection molders to perform effective purging at significantly lower processing temperatures while reducing:
• Startup scrap • Black speck contamination • Material waste • Unnecessary screw pulls • Extended downtime during changeovers
Because PEKUTHERM® ULT is mechanical rather than chemical, processors can often move directly into the next production material without lengthy cleanup procedures.
This becomes particularly valuable when transitioning between:
• Light and dark colors • Sensitive elastomer formulations • Flexible polymers • Specialty low-temperature materials
PEKUTHERM® ULT for Extrusion Operations
Extrusion operations present unique purging challenges due to:
• Continuous processing cycles • Material hang-up points • Carbon buildup over long production runs • Labor-intensive screw maintenance • Difficult elastomer transitions
PEKUTHERM® ULT is increasingly used in extrusion environments for:
• EPDM changeovers • Silicone rubber transitions • Flexible polymer cleaning • Preventative maintenance purges • Screw pull preparation
The thermoelastic mechanical action helps remove degraded material while minimizing the aggressive abrasion associated with some purge technologies.
This allows extrusion processors to maintain cleaner systems while reducing manual cleaning labor during maintenance cycles.
Preventative Maintenance Purging
Many processors still approach purging only as a reaction to contamination problems.
However, preventative maintenance purging can significantly reduce:
• Carbon buildup • Black specks • Material degradation • Emergency shutdowns • Extended screw-pull events
Routine preventative purging with PEKUTHERM® ULT helps maintain cleaner screw and barrel surfaces before contamination becomes severe enough to disrupt production.
This proactive approach helps support:
• More stable processing conditions • Reduced downtime variability • Cleaner startup conditions • Improved production consistency
In many facilities, preventative maintenance purges become part of a scheduled operational workflow rather than a last-minute troubleshooting response.
PEKUTHERM® ULT as a Screw Pull Aid
PEKUTHERM® ULT also functions as a screw pull aid during maintenance operations.
As the material mechanically soft-scours degraded polymers from metal surfaces, it helps reduce residual buildup remaining inside the screw flights prior to removal.
Processors frequently report:
• Cleaner screw pulls• Reduced manual scraping• Faster maintenance cycles• Reduced labor requirements• Less downtime during inspections
Unlike chemical systems, this process relies on physical thermoelastic action rather than chemical loosening or lubricative behavior.
The result is a cleaner maintenance process while minimizing mechanical wear on screw and barrel surfaces.
Real-World Extrusion Testimonial
“PEKUTHERM® ULT has dramatically improved our EPDM and silicone rubber changeovers. The ability to purge at ultra-low temperatures, as low as 175°F, has been a game changer for our process. We are now saving significant raw material and labor, as the manual scrubbing previously required during screw pulls has been virtually eliminated. Over the course of a year, this translates into lower operating costs, increased uptime, and more efficient extrusion line performance.” Extrusion Processor Using PEKUTHERM® ULT
Why Ultra-Low Temperature Purging Matters
Many processors underestimate how difficult low-temperature purging environments can become.
When purge materials cannot operate effectively at lower temperatures, processors may encounter:
• Incomplete cleaning• Material contamination• Excessive purge waste• Additional downtime• Carbon carryover into production• Manual maintenance escalation
PEKUTHERM® ULT was specifically engineered to address these lower-temperature operational environments while maintaining effective mechanical cleaning performance.
For facilities processing silicone rubber, EPDM, specialty elastomers, or flexible polymers, this ultra-low-temperature capability can dramatically improve operational efficiency across both production and maintenance workflows.
Made in America Since 1985
PEKUTHERM® has been trusted in continuous production use since 1985.
Today, PEKUTHERM® products are manufactured in America and supplied to plastic processors seeking:
• Reduced downtime • Faster changeovers • Cleaner maintenance cycles • Improved production consistency • Mechanical purging performance without chemical reactions or carrier-resin contamination risks.
Learn More About PEKUTHERM®
Explore PEKUTHERM® mechanical purging solutions for injection molding and extrusion applications: https://www.pekutherm.org
Contact UniTemp to discuss:
• Injection molding applications • Extrusion processing • Silicone rubber purging • EPDM transitions • Preventative maintenance purging • Screw pull aid workflows • Material and color changeovers
FAQ
What is PEKUTHERM® ULT used for?
PEKUTHERM® ULT is a mechanical purging compound used for injection molding and extrusion operations involving low-temperature materials, elastomers, and flexible polymers.
What temperatures can PEKUTHERM® ULT process at?
PEKUTHERM® ULT operates across a range of 175°F – 625°F (79°C – 330°C).
Is PEKUTHERM® ULT chemical or mechanical?
PEKUTHERM® ULT is a mechanical purging compound that uses thermoelastic physical action rather than chemical reactions.
Can PEKUTHERM® ULT be used for extrusion?
Yes. PEKUTHERM® ULT is used in extrusion operations for EPDM, silicone rubber, specialty elastomers, preventative maintenance purges, and screw pull aid applications.
Does PEKUTHERM® ULT work as a screw pull aid?
Yes. PEKUTHERM® ULT helps reduce residual buildup during maintenance, allowing cleaner and faster screw removal.
Does PEKUTHERM® ULT require soaking or premixing?
No. PEKUTHERM® ULT does not require premixing, soaking time, or chemical activation.
