Consistent roll maintenance is a necessary aspect of maximizing cast film and extrusion coating equipment performance and longevity. In this two-part series blog, we will discuss the necessary step-by-step instructions for cleaning chill rolls to remove iron oxides and other build-up.

Safety Note: Always follow the safety recommendations provided by manufacturers when using any of the products/procedures for cleaning chill rolls.

Chill Roll Cleaning

We suggest utilizing the following every six months or until a cleaning cycle schedule is established. The chemical used in the process below is Oakite^® 32, a Chemetall BASF product, but there are others available based on preference.

First, make sure you have the right equipment. We recommend:

• • • A pump – Low-capacity (30 to 40 GPM), expendable or acid-resistant; this includes immersible sump-type pumps
    • Open tank – 150 to 200-gallon capacity
    • Flexible hose – 1 to 1 ½ inches (25 to 38mm) internal diameter
    • Fixture to hold roll during cleaning – Rolls should be properly supported to prevent accidental movement during the cleaning process. Damage to the roll and/or personal injury may result if the roll were to shift/move during the process.
    • Oakite 32 liquid – Enough to maintain 25 percent solution by volume starting with 50-gallon solution
    • Titration Kit – Use Gardotest Procedure 96 for the concentration of Oakite 32. Use Gardotest Procedure 66 for neutralization of Oakite 32 using Enprox 714. To receive the procedure, call 1-800 526-4473 ext. 2355 for technical assistance.
    • Enprox 714 liquid – Or, equivalent alkaline to neutralize Oakite 32

 Set-up Procedure

1  Place the fixture for holding the chill roll as near to the tank as possible (5 to 8 feet).
2  Attach the supply rubber hose from the discharge of the sump pump to roll journals using suitable reducers, unions, etc. Do not pass the cleaning solution through the rotary union.
3  Attach the return rubber hose from the discharge hose to the other journal and to the tank. Discharge of hose must be below the liquid level of the tank.

Cleaning Procedure Using Oakite

1  Fill the open tank with approximately 50 gallons of fresh water with the sump running to fill the hoses and circulate it through the roll.
2  Add sufficient Oakite 32 to the tank for a 25 percent-by-volume solution (approximately one 20 gallon carboy container of acid).
3  Continually circulate this solution for 20 minutes. Titrate the solution sample from the tank with a titrating kit supplied by Chemetall BASF. To receive the procedure, call 1-800-526-4473 ext. 2355 for technical assistance.
4  When the solution concentration has NOT changed, as indicated by titration, the cleaning is complete. Allow the solution circulate another 30 to 45 minutes.
5  Drain the system as much as possible using the pump by moving the supply hose from the roll journal and draining the system into a drum or other disposal container. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for proper disposal of the solution.
6  Add sufficient fresh water to the tank totaling approximately 50 gallons in the complete system. Add sufficient Enprox 714 as indicated by Gardotest Procedure 66, or equivalent alkaline to fresh water in the tank. Recirculate this solution until litmus paper indicates the solution is neutral or slightly alkaline; pH paper may also be used.
NOTE: The return hose must be lifted above the tank liquid level and the fluid tested on the litmus or pH paper as it exits the return hose.
7  Drain the alkaline solution in the recirculating system using the procedure noted in step #5. Then, flush the system with fresh water and drain. It is advisable to add a rust inhibitor to the flushing solution at the end of the cleaning cycle.

Instructions for Titrating Solutions of Oakite 32

Materials Needed

• • • Test Kit for Oakite 32: Material #45218539
    • Gardotest Indicator 155, Bromophenol Blue 60 ml #50560514
    • Gardotest Solution 23, 0.5N Sodium Hydroxide 250 ml #50560578
    • Sample Bottle marked at 10-25-50-100 ml mark 1 ea #45218458
    • Pipette, Direct Read, 0 – 5 ml, 1ea #45218454 Dropper,
    • Glass, 0 – 5 ml 1 #45218454

Procedure

1  Using either the graduation marks on the 120 ml sample bottle or the appropriate dropper, measure out the 2 ml sample volume of Oakite 32 solution to be titrated. Add sufficient water to fill the 120 ml sample bottle about half full. Water can be DI, RO or distilled.
2  Add 10-15 drops of Gardotest Indicator 155 and swirl to mix. The color will be yellow.
3  Fill the calibrated direct read pipette exactly to the zero-mark with Gardotest Solution 23, and add this to the mixture in the sample bottle, a few drops at a time with swirling between the additions, until the color changes from yellow to blue.
4  Record the number of mls used. Call this Titration T. This completes the analysis
5  If a precipitate forms, allow it to settle and observe the color of the supernatant liquid to make sure it is blue. If still yellow, add more Gardotest Solution 23 to a blue endpoint.
6  Calculation: Mls of Gardotest Solution 23 used X 2.5 = % by volume Oakite 32

EXAMPLE:  If 100 gallons of Oakite 32 solution tests at 5 percent and recommended concentration is 10 percent, add 5.5 gallons of Oakite 32. If the sample of Oakite 32 being tested contains a large amount of iron, the color at the end of the titration may be green or blue-green instead of pure blue.

Our next blog will discuss tips for care of rubber-covered rolls, including grinding. If you have any questions relating to this blog post, please comment below.

If you wish to inquire about our products and service, please contact us by emailing marketing@davis-standard.com.

Cheers,

The D-S Connect Blog Team