What Is Plastic Extrusion?
Have you ever wondered how composite windows, vinyl fencing, or freezer gaskets are made? These products—and many
others—are produced using a high-volume manufacturing process called plastic extrusion.
What Is an Extruder?
An extruder is the key piece of equipment at the heart of this manufacturing technique. Extruders consist mainly of
the following components:
Hopper (manual or vacuum): Holds and feeds the raw plastic materials.
Barrel with screw
mechanism: Pushes the plastic through the barrel.
External heaters: Help maintain
desired temperatures inside the barrel.
Die: Forms the profile of the plastic part being
manufactured.
The Preferred Plastic Extrusion Process
The plastic extrusion process begins when polymer compounds and additives (in the form of pellets, flakes, granules,
or powders) are continuously fed through a hopper into the extruder.
The screw gradually moves these materials along the barrel. During this process, enough heat is generated to melt the
plastic compounds. External heaters help maintain the desired temperature as the melted plastic moves through the
barrel.
When the molten plastic exits the barrel, it is forced through a die that shapes it into the desired profile. A
cooling section then helps maintain the profile while the plastic sets and hardens.
Benefits of Plastic Extrusion
Plastic extrusion is a continuous process capable of high-volume output, making it a more economical manufacturing
method than other processes. In addition, tooling costs are relatively low.
Plastic extrusion works particularly well for producing plastic parts with consistent wall thicknesses, as well as
profiles that are wider and longer than those produced by other manufacturing methods.
Plastic films, bags, piping, tubing, rods, weather stripping, and deck railing are just a few of the many products
successfully and economically produced by plastic extrusion.
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