Plastics Extrusion

Extrusion is a continuous process through which parts of a fixed cross-sectional profile are made. Material is fed through a hopper into an extruder, essentially a rotating screw surrounded by a heated barrel, where it is mixed, melted and pumped through a die. The die gives the part its shape. Types include film extrusion, sheet extrusion, pipe, profile and tubing extrusion.

A Processor's Guide to Making World-Class Multilumen Tubing
Pipe, Profile & Tubing Extrusion

A Processor's Guide to Making World-Class Multilumen Tubing

Process innovation is pushing catheter design to the limit. Here are Lubrizol’s tricks of the trade.

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ESSENTIAL READING

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What You Need to Know About Melt-Temperature Measurement in Single-Screw Extruders
Extrusion Know How

What You Need to Know About Melt-Temperature Measurement in Single-Screw Extruders

Measuring the discharge temperature is not so simple, especially when using thermocouples positioned in the transfer line just upstream of the die.

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How to Select the Right Cooling Stack for Sheet
Sheet Extrusion

How to Select the Right Cooling Stack for Sheet

First, remember there is no universal cooling-roll stack. And be sure to take into account the specific heat of the polymer you are processing.  

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Why Are There No 'Universal' Screws for All Polymers?
Extrusion

Why Are There No 'Universal' Screws for All Polymers?

There’s a simple answer: Because all plastics are not the same. 

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What to Know About Your Materials When Choosing a Feeder
Compounding

What to Know About Your Materials When Choosing a Feeder

Feeder performance is crucial to operating extrusion and compounding lines. And consistent, reliable feeding depends in large part on selecting a feeder compatible with the materials and additives you intend to process. Follow these tips to analyze your feeder requirements.

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Understanding Melting in Single-Screw Extruders
Extrusion Know How

Understanding Melting in Single-Screw Extruders

You can better visualize the melting process by “flipping” the observation point so the barrel appears to be turning clockwise around a stationary screw.

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Follow These Tips to Fire Up Your Cold Blown Film Line
Film Extrusion

Follow These Tips to Fire Up Your Cold Blown Film Line

Firing up a cold blown-film line after a shutdown involves multiple pieces of equipment that all interact. Here’s a look at those components individually and some best practices on how to get your line up and running as quickly and safely as possible.

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Latest Extrusion News And Updates

Novel Extruder Takes Unique Approach to Feeding, Melting
Extrusion

Novel Extruder Takes Unique Approach to Feeding, Melting

MixFlow extruder relies on conductive heating to melt plastics, upending conventional wisdom on how plastics melt inside conventional screw extruders.

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PTi Names Pasturczak Sales Manager
Sheet Extrusion

PTi Names Pasturczak Sales Manager

Pasturczak promoted to new role for sheet extrusion machine builder.  

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Servo-Controlled Coiler for Tubing, Flexible Profiles
Pipe, Profile & Tubing Extrusion

Servo-Controlled Coiler for Tubing, Flexible Profiles

The technology is said to ensure maximum accuracy and repeatability for high-quality product winding.   

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Recycling

Service Enables One-Day Auxiliary Commissioning

One-day, on-site equipment setup and training assistance program for all types of Conair auxiliaries.  

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Mucell Extrusion Purchased by Censco
Film Extrusion

Mucell Extrusion Purchased by Censco

Zotefoams PLC sells Mucell Extrusion Technology brand to engineering services company.

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Investment Group Assumes Majority Ownership of Milacron Injection Molding, Extrusion Business
Injection Molding

Investment Group Assumes Majority Ownership of Milacron Injection Molding, Extrusion Business

The investment is designed to accelerate Milacron’s growth and strengthen its position as a global provider of highly engineered plastic processing solutions.

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Featured Posts

Extrusion: Live and In Person
Extrusion

Extrusion: Live and In Person

Log out from your computer and make plans to join us in Boston this May for Extrusion 2025.

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How To Identify Resin Degradation in Single-Screw Extruders
Extrusion Know How

How To Identify Resin Degradation in Single-Screw Extruders

Degradation can occur in many single-screw extrusion operations, and typically occurs due to minor design flaws in the screw. Here is how to track it down.  

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Collaboration Key to Development of Thermoformed EV Charging Stations
Thermoforming

Collaboration Key to Development of Thermoformed EV Charging Stations

Heavy-gauge former Ray Products and custom sheet extruder Sekisui Kydex combine expertise in materials science and processing to commercialize cost-effective charging units.  

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Smooth Operators: Vibration Compensation Improves Robot Performance
Automation

Smooth Operators: Vibration Compensation Improves Robot Performance

Ulendo is working to apply its vibration compensation algorithm to robots. This application is more complex than its initial market of fused filament fabrication 3D printers, but could result in faster, cheaper robots.

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This Tubing Processor Is Used to the 'Hard Stuff'
Pipe, Profile & Tubing Extrusion

This Tubing Processor Is Used to the 'Hard Stuff'

Kent Elastomer Products has emerged from its beginnings as a supplier of latex dip tubing to a leading manufacturer of high-end tight tolerance tubes for a range of applications.  

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Novel Line Turns Fluff to Blown Film
Postconsumer

Novel Line Turns Fluff to Blown Film

Processor Bioflex of Mexico is utilizing Reifenhäuser Blown Film’s EVO Fusion technology to integrate postindustrial and postconsumer recycled materials into products.  

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Plastics Size Reduction

FAQ: Extrusion

How Much L/D Do You Really Need?

However, there are actual limits on increasing output as L/D is increased. Usually these limits are due to the inability of the feed section to deliver more polymer. On smaller-diameter screws, that limit often is determined by screw strength. On small screws you can only go so deep in screw channels before the screw is over torqued and fails. On larger extruders, the efficiency of feeding decreases as the channels get deeper until there is no further increase in output.

How Do I Select the Right Cooling Stack for Sheet Extrusion?

There are four main things to consider in selecting the correct stack for your application: the overall cooling capacity, the products to be processed, the mechanical capability, and the rolls’ internal design. Considering just the cooling capacity, the top roll is there to set the sheet thickness as well as its uniformity.

How Do You Know if Your Screws Are Working Properly?

One of the most useful evaluations is the relatively simple calculation of drag flow. Drag flow is simply half the volume of one turn of the metering section per second at a specific screw rpm, which, when multiplied by a units conversion and the melt specific gravity of the polymer, is a very accurate approximation of the output in lb/hr at no head pressure.

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