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Extruded Plastic Profile

These days high quality plastic extrusion profiles are made from a wide range of materials. Extruded Plastic profiles comes in a wide variety of shapes,
colour and sizes. Modern extrusion machine lines can handle tubes that has a diameter of 160 mm and profiles that are 350 mm wide. Let's have look
at the choice of plastic materials for extruded profiles. The image here shows some of the popular extruded plastic profiles.

Materials for Extruded Plastic Profiles

If we categorize the plastic materials used for the extrusion it would be found that Flexible and rigid PVC remains the most popular plastic material used
for extrusion. Among others the major plastics used are HDPE, LDPE, Poly propylene, PMMA, and PS. But it must be kept in mind that the different
thermoplastics that are used meet different performance and cost requirements. The table that follows takes a closer look at some of the materials that
are typically used in making extruded profiles from plastic material.
MATERIAL KEY ADVANTAGES APPLICATIONS
ABS

Ability to withstand high temperatures.

Good adhesive properties.

Pipes, hosing, refrigerator, fridge and
freezer parts.
Acetal
Excellent resistance to hot water and organic chemicals.
Very good friction and abrasion qualities.
Display stands, light diffusers, point of
sale holders etc.
Acrylic
Crystal clarity
Exceptional resistance to chemicals, weather and environment.
 
Polystyrene (HIP)
Good adhesive properties.
Packaging and coving
Polyethylene
Can be supplied both in high or low density.
Good resistance to chemicals and low temperatures.
Packaging, gas and water piping,
protective covers
Polypropylene
Tough material
Good resistance to chemical environments.
Ability to withstand high temperatures.
Tubing and hinge components. 
PVC
Good flexibility for different applications.
Trims, hosing sleeps etc.
UPVC (rigid PVC)
Extremely versatile
Wide range of colours
Low cost
Windows, Tubes, glazing
Clear PETG
Good clarity
Excellent resistance to chemicals
High gloss
 
Polycarbonate
High temperature performance
Extremely strong
Choice of wide range of grades
Light diffusers, Low voltage light
tubes for marking etc.
Some materials for extruded profiles are highlighted here:

Parameters to Select the Best Plastic Material in Extrusion Design

  • Aesthetics
  • Rigidity
  • Flexibility
  • Smell
  • Heat Stability
  • UV Stability
  • Flame retardation capacity
  • Chemical Resistance
  • Impact Strength

Buyers Guide for Design Consideration in Extruded Plastic Profiles

A good design of the extruded plastic profiles should ensure cost-effectiveness, uniform good quality etc. The following design tips may prove to be
useful for designing a plastic extrusion. Ideally from the design point of view, design considerations can be broken down to two parts. They are the
following:

Basic Die Design

  • Flat Plate Die
    Plate that has the shape of the part cut through a die. There is no transition to guide the material. This low cost design is suited ideally for low
  • volume production runs.

     
  • Semi-streamlined Die
    At the back of the die the edges and corners have radii to help the material transition into the die.

     
  • Fully Streamlined Die
    The die is able to aggressively channelize the plastic material throughout the die in an even manner. This design however is not cheap so ideally
  • suited to high production runs.

Part Design

  • Consistent Wall Thickness
    Coming to wall thickness, of the profiles, an uniform wall thickness is one of the most vital aspect in the design of the part. It permits an even flow
  • of material through the die. Thus resulting in more controlled parts along with a lower tooling expenditure.

     
  • Hollow Section Design
    Ideally designing of profiles with hollow sections should be avoided. They are known to add significantly to the cost of the part as well as the tooling.

Design Tips for Co extruded Profiles

  • A dual extrusion for the shape of a modular cabinet wall panel.
    Dual Extrusion

     
  • In case flexible sealing portion wears out due to abrasion, a flexible insert can then be slid into the rigid plastic slot as a replacement.
    Dual Duro Meter

     
  • Common dual extrusions of rigid and flexible PVC.
    Flexible PVC

     
  • Cross section of a window frame that has a metal embodiment.
    Metal Embodiment

     
  • Applications for metal embodiment extrusions.
    Metal Embodiment Extrusions

     

Application of Extruded Plastic Profiles

Extruded plastic profiles have successfully made in roads into a number of critical industries. These products are known for their flexibility and
diversity.

Typical plastic profile applications:

  • Angles
  • Custom
  • Component
  • Parts
  • Edging
  • Hollow
  • Profiles
  • Integrated Circuit Carriers
  • Packaging Tubes
  • Plastic Bumpers
  • Plastic Protectors
  • POP Displays
  • U Channels

Industrial Applications of Extruded Plastic Profiles

Some of the critical industries that use extruded plastic profiles are highlighted here

Extruded Plastic Profiles in Medical Industry

In the medical industry extruded plastic profiles are used in the following segments. They are medical device components, medical instruments and
medical processing aides. Let's take a look at the products now.
  • Extruded Tubing
    Extruded TubingA wide range of plastic extruded tubes today are used in critical medical applications. In medical industry adhering to tight tolerances for the extruded products is an absolute must. Extruded Medical Tubing are produced in various shapes that includes rectangular, round, square, triangular etc. Products that are extruded and co-extruded includes:
    • Single lumen tubing
    • Multi lumen tubing
    • Multi layered tubing
    • Thin wall tubing
    • Dual wall tubing
    • Surgical Tubing
    • Medical catheter Tubing
  • Extruded Plastic Profiles in Automotive Industry

    In the automotive industry there are many instances of use of extruded plastic profiles. The following image gives an overview of the extent to
  • which plastic extrusion is a compulsory feature in automobiles.

Automotive Industry


Some of the popular extruded profiles as used in automobiles include:

  • Fuel resistance Tubes
    Some of the advantages associated with extruded fuel resistance tubes includes: resistance to flames fuels and liquids, operating capability in
  • high temperatures, low temperature flexibility.

  • Extruded Plastic Trims
    Edge Trims are used in a car and truck doors. Options in the form of adhesive also comes with the Extruded Trims. Some popular shapes of edge
  • trims are shown here:

Extruded Plastic Profiles in Building Industry

Extruded Plastic profiles are used extensively in the building industry. Plastic siding profiles have a global use. Some of the profiles used are office furniture,
partitioning profiles Nozing, False Floor Beading, Thermal Breakers, fencing, decking, siding, bevelled Skirting, Thermal cover, Cove Track etc. Window
profiles are also very popular.

Extruded Plastic Profiles in Other industries

Other industries that uses extruded plastic profiles include:
 

  • Refrigeration and Airconditioning
  • Electrical
  • Agriculture
  • Food processing
  • Aerospace
  • Pharmaceuticals
 
 davewoo
 ryan
 kevin