How To Choose the Right Plastic Extrusion Techniques for Your Project

Plastic extrusion refers to the process of melting and forming plastic with a custom die. The plastic is pushed through a die that shapes the material, and the resulting form is then cooled and cut to size. Clark Rubber and Plastic uses extrusion techniques to create high-quality plastic products. Here are some factors that affect which plastic extrusion technique you should use for your project:

Product Type

Different plastic extrusion techniques produce a range of products. Knowing what products you need for your project will help you determine the most effective technique. Our extrusion techniques can help you create: 

• Plastic films: Blow film extrusion works by extruding plastic through a circular die, creating a tube. The machine blows air into the tube to form the correct size and dimensions. This tube creates thin plastic films. 
• Plastic sheets: Sheet extrusion uses a flat die to shape molten plastic into flat sheets. Cooling rolls allow manufacturers to control the thickness of the sheets. 
• Tubes and pipes: The tubing extrusion technique applies a positive internal pressure throughout the plastic, creating a hollow core. This results in plastic tubes and pipes that can be used for plumbing and medical devices. 
• Cable insulation: The over-jacketing technique creates a protective outer layer for cables and wires. Melted plastic is pressed around a cable to enhance its insulation and protect future handlers from electric shock. 

These extrusion techniques create products with uniform sizes and dimensions. They also enable you to customize your products to meet your project requirements. Our team will discuss your project goals to help you select an extrusion method that aligns with your product designs and material preferences.

Industry Niche

Your business’s industry impacts the type of plastic products and extrusion methods you’ll need. Industries we serve include the home appliance, consumer, and automotive industries. The tubing extrusion technique can be used to create vehicle hoses and tubing for fluid transfer systems in automobiles. The home appliance industry utilizes plastic components for handles and seals on ovens, cooktops, and microwaves. Co-extrusion and tri-extrusion techniques combine two or three materials in a single product, resulting in a final product with unique strength and durability. 

Packaging for consumer products often requires plastic films and sheets that facilitate easy transportation and product preservation. Sheet and blow film extrusion techniques can be used to create packaging products like grocery bags and cling wraps. These materials provide product protection and extend the shelf lives of foods. Plastic extrusion allows for more product versatility, allowing you to create packaging with different surface finishes and barrier properties.

Thickness Requirements

Extrusion processes can produce plastic goods with varying thicknesses. Sheet extrusion can be used to create thicker plastic films than blow film extrusion. At Clark Rubber and Plastic, we use co-extrusion and tri-extrusion to create multiple layers within individual products. We utilize tri-extrusion to manufacture pipes and tubes, and we confirm that the outer layers of these products provide lasting environmental protection.

Learn About Plastic Extrusion Techniques

Materials we use for our plastic extrusion products include thermoplastics, elastomers, acrylic, and polycarbonate. We add color to plastic products by mixing in colorants during the melting process. Clark Rubber and Plastic alsooffers plastic injection molding and rubber extrusion services. To learn more about our plastic extrusion techniques, call or email us today.