In modern lifestyle, with the advancement of modern technology, the different materials we use are being replaced by plastic. Plastic, although hazardous for the environment, is a very effective material when it comes to manufacturing products that are both durable and cost effective. This is, primarily, the reason why plastic is so popular a material that is used in almost all the things we use. For example, the keyboard we are typing on to the dashboard of our cars, all are made of plastic, that have been made presentable and attractive with beautiful designs. The toys that children play with, and the bulk of the packaging industry runs primarily on plastic. So let us have a look at this plastic extrusion process that has made life easier for us (think about no polythene bags to help you store stuff)!
How it works
The plastic extrusion industry is a very important industry in all respects and is more effective than you think it is. Let us, for the time being, have a look at the extrusion process that is like an enigma to us because although we extensively use plastic, we have never been inside such an industry. So here it goes:
What the industry does at the very beginning is very predictable: buy large quantities of plastic. The plastics are then molten by applying a lot of heat.
This is done because plastic is malleable to a large extent, and just as the plastic melts, different colorants are added to it so that the end product is colorful and attractive.
UV rays are used to block certain areas to obtain the right effect.
Different additives are mixed and the mixture is then put into a barrel. The molten plastic falls into a large, industrial screw. This screw is a revolutionary tool, and it twists and turns to fashion the plastic before it is passed out through a cavity.
The plastic is then passed on into heating chambers in order to mould it properly. Care is taken so that it does not overheat. There are cooling fans that are automatically turned on if the heat is greater than what should be the optimum temperature.
This product is then passed through steel sheets which make sure that any impurity in the plastic is thoroughly removed and the product is finally ready for commercial use.
Types of extrusion
There are different types of plastic extrusion. Some of them are:
Sheet extrusion: Sheet extrusion is the kind of extrusion where the plastic is put under steel calendar rolls.
Co-extrusion: In this process, different types of plastics are put into the same barrel to produce the desired end-product.
Let us learn more about the later procedure.
What are the advantages of co-extrusion?
There are a number of privately owned plastic manufacturers in New South Wales that provide you with the best kind of plastic. Co-extruded Plastic Extrusions are a popular usage in everything: let us for example consider the usage of radio-opaque plastic in catheters improves the quality of the x-ray image as the catheter enters the specific vein. The multicolored straws that are used are the perfect examples of the usage of this very useful modern technique that has improved a lot many things in its own way.