What is Plastic Extrusion
Plastic extrusion is a common plastic processing process. This process allows plastic in a molten state to be passed through an extruder. The required cross-sectional shape is formed through the mold. After cooling, the desired plastic product is obtained. This process is mainly divided into the following steps:
1. Plastic Pellet Pretreatment
Plastic raw materials are usually supplied in pellet form. Before extrusion, these pellets undergo a pretreatment step. Typically involves drying to remove moisture. This ensures a high-quality finished product during the extrusion process.
2. Plastic Melting
Pretreated plastic pellets are added to the feed port of the extruder. Under the high temperature and high-pressure environment of the extruder, the plastic particles are melted into a melt.
3. Melt Extrusion
The melt is further compressed and pushed through a heated screw extruder. This creates a certain shaped cross section. This cross-sectional shape is determined by the extruder head and die.
4. Molding
The molten plastic passes through the extruder head and enters the mold. The mold gives the plastic melt the desired cross-sectional shape. The design of the extruder head and die will determine the shape of the final product. This can be tubes, profiles, films, sheets, etc.
5. Cooling
The plastic product formed in the mold is fed into a cooling area. It becomes a solid plastic product after cooling and solidification.
6. Cutting And Collection
After cooling, the plastic products undergo necessary cutting and processing. It is then collected and packaged.
