How Polymer Extrusion Helps Everyday Life
It's is quite entertaining to see how many people think nothing of the process of polymer extrusion process. And look over the fact we use plastic products abundantly every day. So to acknowledge the lazy people who pass the words Plastic Profile Extrusion without any thought; this is for you! I only feel people should at least knowledge that the process exists because you can't go anywhere without seeing one of its products. It is simply the process of Plastic being melted down into a continuous profile, and cut to length. It's a manufacturer of many products such as Plastic piping, window frames and adhesive tape. In the extrusion process it begins with tiny beads of plastic that are fed into a heated extruder or cavity.
Wanting to see this next process live, Youtube.com showed me everything I needed to know as if I was standing right in an extrusion factory. The plastic is usually in bead form as it is fed into the cavity. After the plastic is fed into the cavity, colorants and sometimes UV inhibitors are added to the plastic.
Once inside the plastic extrusion machine all the material and beads move through an opening in the extruder cavity towards a screw mechanism. The screw rotates and forces the plastic material through the cavity.
A lot of the processes are commons sense, or what one would think the processes involve. After it's through the extruder cavity it's time for the heaters. Inside the heaters it's a high 400 degrees F.
Most times the friction and pressure build up so much there is no need of the heaters and they are shut off. The friction and pressure keep the plastic at the desired temperature. It's a simple fact but an interesting one none the less.
Cooling fans are also usually used to keep the plastic at whatever desired temperature. The extrusion process continues with the molten plastic traveling through a specially designed filter. This filter helps eliminate any remaining contaminants from the plastic. Following the filter comes the die!
The dye the molten plastic goes in is responsible for the plastics profile. Different dyes are used in different types of Plastic Product Manufacturing. After the die is added it's time for the finally cooling and a water sealed bath. Sometimes cooling rollers replace the water bath for more delicate plastic products
When it is put into the dye it must immediately put into a water sealed bath, for the final stage in the cooling process. Cooling Rolls are used for more delicate window panels. I wonder how interesting it'd be to stand and witness right in front of those huge cooling rollers. Now it's time for the final step in this fast paced adrenaline rushing process!
After the Polymer Extrusion Product is finished its time to be cut, spooled or coiled! plastic molding companies sometimes differ in cooling techniques. Well that was the exciting process of injection molding and hurricane shutters!
Published November 7th, 2010
Filed in Business