Extruded Products
General

What Is Co-Extrusion Of Plastic And The Applications Of Extruded Products?

Co-extrusion is the process used in plastic extrusion industry that comprises of compressing two or more different types of plastics or materials and then makes them pass through the same die to produce a single piece. When multiple plastics or materials are combined together and pressed in different coloured die, the result can yield properties distinct from those of a single material. Extrusion has been a widely popular process and used worldwide as it has opened up new frontiers in material engineering, packaging, building and construction  and addressed several previously difficult manufacturing needs.

The Co-extrusion Process

In standard plastic extrusion of different plastics and materials, solid plastic pellets are fed into a forming mechanism, where jacketed compression work to melt and feed the materials into a die. This entire process involves multiple extruders to form layered or encapsulated parts, with each extruder delivering the precise amount of quality or specification plastic needed for the operation.

Each individual plastic retains its original properties when extruded but is combined into a compound-material part. If mixed prior to extrusion, the characteristics of the individual materials are very likely to get altered and one should also notice that not all plastics are suitable for extrusion.

All plastic cannot be extruded because some polymers will not adhere, but some manufacturers go by introducing a conductive middle layer that can often solve this problem. Plastics should be of similar melting point for extrusion as the different temperature is unsuitable for the process, as degradation will occur.

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Applications of Co-Extrusion

This process and the materials made by compressing different items to produce single piece also finds its usage in medical filed. Coextruding a stripe of radiopaque plastic and few more materials into a catheter improves x-ray quality as it moves without compromising with the effectiveness of the catheter itself. Co-extrusion is also a great option that can be used to reduce the costs by using recycled and reground scrap.

Such craps and materials are reground with virgin material to produce the handrails, fences and other applications. The process can be seen in projects as diverse as plastic pipes, tubing and structural components or air blown food containers. The edge protectors for pallets, the multi-coloured pipes that are often seen in plumbing and the pipes for electrical tubes make a good example of coextruded tubing’s design features. Striped tubing and extruded sheets also serves many purposes in the medical field, engineering and electrical department.

The coloured stripes can denote different chemicals and produce internally hardened tubes through which a cable. It can run by giving high performance while retaining the tube’s flexibility. RBM plastic manufacture tubes and plastic profiles that give liner impervious to corrosives. They also make an inexpensive coating to add bulk and stability for they composed of a coextruded cable and jacket.

When you are looking for quality co-extruded plastic extrusions, look no further than RBM PLASTIC EXTRUSIONS.  The company focus on quality when it comes to the extruded products, which means that you won’t be let down. All the co-Extruded profiles at RBM PLASTIC EXTRUSIONS are made with strong thermoplastic materials, which mean that they are of the highest quality.