Extrusion dies are important investments in the aluminum industry that are anticipated to yield long-term efficiency. They form aluminum profiles and are made from steel that can endure high temperatures because of their functional structures. Die smooth and trouble-free operation is essential to maintaining production efficiency in high-tonnage aluminum facilities. The main issues affecting the dies' reduced performance are wear and tear from frequent use and non-compliance from surfaces that aren't properly clean because of residues and adhesions that build up over time. The dies need to be cleaned and maintained on a regular basis, and this should be a consistent method to avoid these problems.

To provide a uniform surface area, residual aluminum residues that warp the surface are carefully cleaned using wet blasting, while any residues stuck to the dies are treated using a caustic soda solution. The most crucial factors to take into account for the nitriding process performed to the dies are that the surface area needs to be totally free of dents, adhesions, residues, and dust. Using compressed air to spray consumable ingredients directly onto the surface produces a more abrasive cleaning that may cause localized damage to the original layer during standard dry blasting. Moreover, dents and adhesions will unavoidably form if the consumable materials are sprayed onto the surface without the liquid's buoyancy.

Wet blasting technology outperforms dry blasting on dies with complex geometries because of the fluidity impact of water. Furthermore, caustic stains and residues that enter tiny crevices can be considerably more effectively cleaned when water is in constant touch with the surface. Wet blasting is the most sensitive yet efficient way to clean extrusion dies since it eliminates the sinking and abrasive features of the consumable materials due to the liquid's balancing nature. The idea that the white nitride layer, which occurs after nitriding and has a hardness of over 1100 HV, is a residue that needs to be removed is one of the largest misunderstandings in the industry. This layer directly impacts the die's working life and is necessary to reduce friction when profiles pass through the die during the extrusion process. The development of the nitride layer is adversely affected by adhesions and residues on the surface of dies subjected to dry blasting. As a result, dies should first undergo heat treatment and a thorough cleaning using the wet blasting process before nitriding. Wet blasting is the most effective approach for surface preparation following a bath in caustic soda and prior to nitriding.