Plastic extrusion service suppliers specialize in extruding plastics and polymer compounds into custom and standard profiles and shapes. These services are generally high volume, handling and processing many types of raw plastic material.

Extrusion is a process used to create a shape of a fixed cross-sectional profile. Extrusion is done by squeezing material in a closed cavity through a tool known as a die using either a mechanical or hydraulic press. Extrusion produces compressive and shear forces in the stock. No tensile is produced which makes high deformation possible without tearing. The cavity in which the raw material is contained is lined with a wear resistant material. This can withstand the high radial loads that are created when the material is pushed through the die.

Extrusion is a near-net-shape process, meaning it eliminates scrap and waste metal generated from machine processes which cut material from a larger block. Less waste means lower material costs and no time or money used for machining and disposal of the waste metal.

In addition, very complex sections can be produced by extrusion, which are not achievable with other shaping techniques. Extrusion can also offer economic advantages in that the dies are relatively inexpensive and are interchangeable, so that one extrusion machine can be used for the production of a wide variety of sections.

Selecting extrusion services requires the industrial buyer to consider the type of plastic being processed, the process method, and the size capabilities of the service.

Types of Plastics

Plastic extrusion services can provide processing for a number of different types of plastics. Some of the most common include:

• ABS
• Polycarbonate
• Polyethylene
• PETG
• Polypropylene (PP)
• Polyvinylchloride (PVC)

Extrusion Method

Plastic extrusion services can utilize different extrusion methods to create plastic parts. The most common of these include are hot extrusion and co-extrusion.

• Hot extrusion uses the good deformability of heated metallic or thermoplastic materials for shaping them. Extrusion at elevated temperatures enables considerable changes of shape to be achieved in a single operation where otherwise shaping them is impractical.
• Co-extrusion is a technique in which multiple layers are extruded together;most widely usedin sheet, film, and tubular extrusion applications.

Size Capabilities

Selection of extrusion services requires an assessment of the product size being manufactured. It is also important to determine the types of shapes the service can produce. Common shapes produced by of plastic extrusion services providers include thin film, sheet, rod or wire, custom profiles or cross sections, construction or building products, tubing or hose, pipe, gaskets or seals, and heat sinks.

Image credits:

Malish Plastics | Preferred Plastics, Inc.