Polymer Extrusion: Why The Process Is A Necessity

My good friend and I decided to take a couple classes together last year, and in both classes windows were abundant. We both sat near large window and shutters were clearly bolted on and ready to be put in action at any moment. After continually staring at them, there was a large word printed in the middle of the shutter and pronounced with its bright green ink, “polymer”. After the semester I got tired of wondering what that word meant and bet my friend I’d find out the meaning and tell him what that word meant as soon as possible. It turns out polymer is a synthetic compound and is used in the polymer extrusion process to manufacturer plastic products. Wanting to know more on the process itself I did some research! It starts out with the plastic being melted into a liquid state, shaped into a continuous profile and cut to length. So let’s get a little more in depth on this economically friendly process!

Information on the internet referring to plastic products is limited but growing for the most part. Having found most of my information through word of mouth and some books I rummaged through from the local bookstore, I felt lucky to share this.

Plastic products through polymer extrusion are 100 percent American Made and Do not use any foreign or Chinese exported materials. Polymer extrusion has been used in the manufacturing of plastic piping, adhesive tape, and window frames. It’s a wide variety of manufactured products which is always a plus!

When the plastic is at its melting point it is transferred into a heated extruder cavity where they will be mixed with colorants and sometimes UV additives. The plastic usually comes in small pellets the size of a dime before being melted.

Next as the plastic moves towards the opening in the extruder cavity it goes through a screw mechanism. The screw rotates the plastic and forces it through the cavity. Inside the cavity it’s a toasty 400 degrees f.

It needs to stay at 400 degrees because that is the plastics melting point and must stay at this temperature and not go higher. Doing so will overheat and burn the plastic which is a big problem with plastic companies today. So plastic companies thought of a good idea for this issue.

They allow three burners to come in contact with the plastic so overtime the plastic will gradually melt instead of burning. It’s a pretty good idea and has become accident proof! The die in the process is added which gives the plastic its profile.

Next plastic extrusion companies comes the exciting cooling process. Cooling fans and sealed water baths are most common forms of cooling. But some Plastic products are too delicate for those forms of cooling so especially designed cooling rolls are put in place.

Finally a true understanding of the role of a polymer manufacturer. Plastic product manufacturing is an ever-growing and smart “green” way to invest in certain products! plastic molded products are just the beginning the list for extrusion products and need for them is at an all time high!