Extrusion is a manufacturing process making use of high volume of raw materials from plastic. The process is done by melting and forming a continuous plastic form. It is important in several industries and the most common applications include weather stripping, pipe and tubing. It produces various items such as window frames, adhesive tapes and wire insulation.
Extrusion processes
While extrusion is already a process in itself, it is subcategorized further into smaller processes, namely:
Sheet or film extrusion. Plastic sheets or films are cooled by means of pulling chill rolls in threes or in fours. It is important to do the process slowly but surely to prevent undesirable conditions. This is used in the production of wine boxes and juice cartons for the liquid packaging industry.
Blown film extrusion. This undergoes the same processes as those in regular extruding processes. The die opens to a circular form similar to that of the pipe die. This is highly favorable in the manufacture of shopping bags.
Overjacketing process. This is also known as the wire coating process where the bare wire is pulled to the center of a tubing die. Pressure or jacketing tooling may be used to make the coating of the wire. For better adhesion, pressure tooling is highly recommended.
Tubing extrusion. This process involves extruding a molten polymer to get it into its desired shape. A pin is used inside the die to produce the hollow sections required from the output. This process is applied in making straws and medical tubing.
There is also a process known as coextrusion where simultaneous extrusion of multi-layered materials is being made. This is done with the use of two or more extruders. Coextrusion is a process that may be combined with any of the other processes mentioned in the preceding paragraphs.
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