Advantages and Disadvantages of Plastic Extrusion

Plastic extrusion is a high-volume manufacturing process where a polymer material is melted and formed into a desired shape and size. This extrusion method is used by many plastic manufacturing companies to create products with a consistent cross-section.

Plastic extrusion has become a preferred method to create products such as PVC pipes, gutters, straws, window frames, plastic sheeting, and wire insulation.

Advantages of Plastic Extrusion

Low Cost – Plastic extrusion has a low-cost relative to other moulding processes. This is due to the efficiency of the process. The thermoplastics used during the process undergo repeated melting and hardening, allowing any waste from the process to be reused.

Flexibility – Plastic extrusion can be used to create a range of shapes in a variety of thicknesses, textures, colours, and sizes in a short amount of time.

Post-Extrusion Alterations – When the plastic leaves the extruder, it’s still hot, which allows for post-extrusion manipulation. This is something that manufacturers can take advantage of, and use a variety of rollers, dies, and extrusion shoes to ensure their extruded product fits their exact requirements.

Disadvantages of Plastic Extrusion

Expansion – Once the extruded product is removed from the extruder, it will remain hot and expand (this is also called die swell). This is a disadvantage, as expansion rates are unpredictable, and the product may not come out as expected.

Product Limitations – Although plastic extrusion can make a wide variety of products, there are still some limitations to what can be produced using this method, and some products require investment in other types of extrusion equipment.

Overall, the advantages of plastic extrusion vastly outweigh the disadvantages and have lead to it becoming one of the most popular methods of plastic production in the world so far.

 

Here at Rayda, we create bespoke plastic products using extrusion to fit your requirements. For more information on plastic extrusion, or if you want to learn more about our process, contact our team today, and we will be happy to help.