Two Finishes for Your Extruded Plastic Products
The plastic extrusion process is used to produce products for the consumer, military, automotive, and solar panel industries. Our company, Clark Rubber & Plastic, offers extruded plastic products with high-quality surface finishes. Here are two types of finishes for plastic products:
Extrusion Process
The plastic extrusion process allows us to create customized, versatile plastic products of different shapes and profiles. It begins with melting the plastic pellets. The types of plastic we use include PVC, acrylic, and polyethylene. During the melting process, Clark Rubber & Plastic is able to add colorants and stabilizing materials to the mixture.
The mixture is pushed through a die to shape the material. Coextrusion and tri-extrusion techniques can be used during the shaping process, impacting the outer layers of the plastic. These techniques extrude two or three materials at the same time. This process allows different materials and colors to be added to the plastic, creating complex products with a variety of properties. These properties include barrier properties and strength.
After we shape the plastic with the die, we cool it using a cold water bath. Our belts size the profile according to the client’s needs. A blade cuts the material into individual pieces at the end of the belt.
1. Clear Finish
A clear or transparent finish can be used for completed plastic products. This finish may apply to plastic packaging products. Clark Rubber & Plastic uses extrusion to create sheets and films of various thicknesses for packaging materials. Clear plastic materials protect the product while allowing consumers to see what the product looks like, creating greater visual appeal for the product.
2. Crosshead Extrusion Coating
If a product needs reinforcement, Clark Rubber & Plastic can use the extrusion crosshead technique to apply a finish. This technique involves running the material through a 90-degree crosshead. At the same time, the finish is applied to the material to make it stronger. Crosshead extrusion coating is a durable finish that can be used with textiles, such as thermoplastics. It can also be used for some fabrics, other textiles, and metal materials.
Clark Rubber & Plastic can work with EPDM, ABS, LPDE, and other materials for extrusion coating. This finish offers a waterproof layer to the material or creates additional protection for the inner materials. It can also be used to provide a decorative exterior for the product. This coating is used for wire coating extrusion, cable, and other products.
Plastic Extrusion at Clark Rubber & Plastic
We offer precision die cutting and use custom dies during the extrusion process. Our plastic products include slide-outs, inserts for solar applications, and automotive tubing for vehicle air and fuel systems. We also offer military-grade parts that can withstand extreme conditions.
Clark Rubber & Plastic also offers injection molding, rubber products, milling, CNC turning services, and precision machining. Our company uses a quality system to ensure that all our products and services meet high production and safety standards. To learn more about plastic extrusion and our other services, we invite you to contact Clark Rubber & Plastic today.