Polystyrene blockage in silo

[ZPD]

Hello, a few months ago an operator running one of our compound lines sent several hundred pounds of polystyrene to a silo while it was quite warm. The PS pellets all stuck together and now we have a enormous chunk of PS at the bottom of the silo. Other than the chunk the silo is now emtpy. Does anyone have an idea how to break this up? Is there a chemical that I can safely pour/spray onto the PS the break up all the pellets?
TIA

 

[Demon3]

I do not think that any chemical will work, the pellets are now fused together and beyond hope. There are agents that would have helped if it was on the pellets before they stuck together but now it's too late. Some solvents like acetone or toluene would dissolve the lump but that may not be something you want to do.

 

[ZPD]

I don't need to salvage the pellets, just remove the chunck or break it up in small enough pieces that we can get it out of the bottom of the silo.

 

[patprimmer]

The normal method is a Jack Hammer.

Like Demon3 says, acetone will dissolve it, But I also, would not advise it other than as a final clean up. Remember it is both a health risk and very flammable.

Regards

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