Leading Polymer Extrusion Manufacturers

The Extrusion Process

This is a process used to manufacture long products of a constant cross-section. This is achieved by forcing softened polymer in the form of pellets through the opening of a die. Next, the pellets are fed into an extruder through a hopper. A feeding screw will then be used to convey the material forward. The material is then forced through a die, where it is converted to a continuous polymer product. There are heating elements that are placed over the barrel for the softening and melting of the polymer. Thermocouples have been used to control the temperature of the material.

The product will then go out of the die and cooled by blown air or in a water bath. Polymer extrusion is a continuous process that lasts as long as the raw pellets are supplied. The extrusion process is most commonly used for thermoplastics, but thermosets and elastomers may also be extruded. In this scenario, cross-linking occurs when the material is heated and melted inside the extruder. The thermoplastic extruded products may be thermoformed further.

Types of Polymer Extrusions

The different types of polymer extrusions include:

Tubing Extrusion

This type of extrusion is utilized in the extrusion of pipes and tubes. In this process, air is applied with positive internal pressure. After exiting the die, the tubes or pipes are pulled into a cooling tank that cools them with water.

Blown Film Extrusion

This type of extrusion is utilized in the production of plastic film tubes. This is achieved through continuous sheeting. In this process, the film tube melt is cooled before it leaves the die. This produces a semi-solid tube that is blown into so that it expands to the size and thickness desired. Blown film extrusion is utilized in the manufacture of products like shopping bags.

Sheet Film Extrusion

This process is utilized to extrude plastic sheets or films with a thickness that is too much for blowing. The sheets are pulled and cooled after exiting the die through a series of cooling rolls, which are also responsible for regulating sheet thickness.

Over Jacket Extrusion

This type of extrusion is utilized in wire coating. In this process, a wire is pulled through the die’s center. If there is a requirement for adhesion between the coating and the wire, pressure tooling is employed. In this extrusion method, the wire is covered by molten plastic while in the die. It is then pressurized when it leaves the die. If there is no requirement of adhesion, jacket tooling is employed. The melt covers the wire as it exits the die in this method.

Applications of Polymer Extrusions

Polymer Extrusion is used to produce plastic products like:

• Medical fluid and IV tubing
• Vinyl siding
• Fencing, deck railings
• Drainage and irrigation pipe
• Home décor, window frames
• Furniture trims

Benefits of Polymer Extrusion

• Polymer extrusion produces a high output of continuous production. These products can then be reeled for applications that require a continuous product like pipe extrusion, tubing extrusion, or film.
• The co-extrusion process can be used to form one product out of two different materials. Co-extrusion reduces costs by using recycled and reground scrap inside virgin materials for fences, handrails, and other applications.
• Polymer extrusion produces products with better flexibility.
• After extrusion, alterations are possible with polymer extrusion. When plastics are removed from the extruder, they stay hot, allowing for post-extrusion manipulations. This means that the shapes can be changed to the required shape of the product.
• The process of polymer extrusion is incredibly versatile.
• Polymer extrusion can produce complex shapes with varying textures, colors, thicknesses, etc.

Choosing the Right Polymer Extrusion Company

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