Leading Plastic Rod Manufacturers

Plastic rods can be used in the construction and commercial business sectors, to structurally support point of purchase displays, and in industrial equipment.

Manufacturing Plastic Rods

Plastic extrusion or plastic co-extrusion are methods used to manufacture plastic rods. The primary procedure used to manufacture plastic rods is known as plastic extrusion.

Plastic Extrusion Process

Typically, the basic compound material used in this plastic extrusion process starts as microplastic materials with a size of less than 5mm. Then, small beads, commonly referred to as resin, are gravity-fed into the barrel of the extruder from a top-mounted hopper. It is possible to blend colorants and UV inhibitors with the resin before they reach the hopper by adding them as additives in the form of pellets or liquid. From the perspective of extruder technology, the plastic extrusion process is similar to the plastic injection molding process, but it varies in that it is a continuous process.

In plastic extrusion, similar profiles of the rods are produced in continuous lengths, usually with reinforcement. Afterward, the material enters through the feed throat, a hole close to the barrel's back, and contacts the screw. The purpose of this rotating screw, which typically rotates at 120 rpm, is to propel the plastic beads into the heated barrel. Due to factors like viscous heating, the temperature needed for extrusion is rarely the same as the barrel's fixed temperature.

Three or more separate PID-controlled heating zones in this barrel work together to raise the barrel's temperature from the back progressively. The plastic enters from this back toward the front. This lowers the possibility of overheating, which could lead to the breakdown of polymers. It also lets the plastic beads melt gradually as they are forced through the barrel. The molten plastic then leaves the barrel, and a screen pack removes any containment before it reaches the die.

Plastic Co-Extrusion Process

Co-extrusion is a modified form of extrusion in which a single product is produced using a combination of two or more distinct materials. Plastic can occasionally be co-extruded with other non-plastic materials, such as metals. The task of melting the polymers used to manufacture the product is carried out by many extruders directed toward a single die.

Types of Extruders

There are many different types of extruder designs for use in extrusion processes. However, continuous and discontinuous extruders are the most common classes of extruders. The main difference between continuous extruders and discontinuous extruders is that discontinuous extruders have reciprocating parts, while continuous extruders have rotating parts. The two additional categories for continuous extruders are screw extruders and drum or disk extruders.

Screw Extruders

Due to their low cost, toughness, simple design, great performance, and reliability, screw extruders are the most popular continuous extruders. Three zones with three different geometries are present in a typical single-screw extruder. The enclosed zones are feed, metering, and compression zones. A constant pitch and variable screw depth creates these zones.

Disk Extruders

Disk extruders facilitate the extrusion process by using disks or drums. Disk extruders are also known as screwless extruders. Viscous drag transfer is used to operate most disk extruder models.

Drum Extruders

This kind of extruder operates by using a spinning drum and barrel. The polymeric material is fed into the annular space between the barrel and the drum in drum extruders.

Applications of Plastic Rods

• Raw materials for making seals
• Support material for displays
• Prestressing tendons

Advantages of Plastic Rods

• High wear resistance
• High impact strength
• High chemical resistance
• Less expensive
• Lightweight

Disadvantages of Plastic Rods

• Not biodegradable
• Toxic
• Lead to pollution
• Non-renewable
• Cannot resist high temperatures
• Prone to damage

Choosing the Correct Plastic Rod Supplier

To ensure you have the most beneficial outcome when purchasing plastic rods from a plastic rod supplier, it is important to compare several companies using our directory of plastic rod suppliers. Each plastic rod supplier has a business profile page highlighting their areas of experience and capabilities, along with a contact form to directly communicate with the supplier for more information or request a quote. Review each plastic rod business website using our patented website previewer to quickly learn what each company specializes in. Then, use our simple RFQ form to contact multiple plastic rod companies with the same form.