A quality rigid extrusion compound is fantastic for the creation of products, such as pipes, furniture, window frames, or any other item with extruded profiles.
Let’s take a brief look at how the rigid PVC extrusion compound process works.
Selecting the Raw Material
Before you can make any extruded plastic product, you need to select the right kind of raw materials. In the case of creating rigid PVC extrusions, you need a rigid extrusion PVC compound that is tough and durable.
Material Preparation
Once the appropriate compound has been selected, the raw materials, which typically come in the form of pellets or granules, will undergo a preprocessing stage to prepare them for the extrusion process.
The preparation process can also involve additional blending to achieve the desired colours, as well as other properties, if required. Typically, before the product can be extruded, it should also be dried to ensure any moisture is removed.
Extrusion
Once the material has been properly prepared, it can then be fed into the extruder. This machine is comprised of a screw that is enclosed in a barrel. Inside this barrel, the PVC granules are heated, softened, and forced through a die to create the extruded shapes.
The die allows for a variety of cross-sectional shapes to be created, such as pipes, sheets, or other types of profiles.
Cooling
Once the material has been extruded and exits the die, it is then cooled and solidifies to maintain its shape. The material can be solidified either via water cooling or air cooling, depending on the requirements of the material and the product.
Sometimes a combination of both water and air cooling is used to achieve a graduated crystallinity for increased strength.
Sizing and Cutting
Following the cooling and solidification processes, the extruded product is passed through a series of sizing equipment to ensure it is measured to the specified dimensions.
Once sized, the material is cut to the desired length using saws or guillotines, and the extruded products are sent on to the final stage.
Finishing
Generally, the extruded product undergoes additional finishing touches after being sized and cut. This might include things like surface treatment, printing, or packing.
Once the materials are packaged and finished, they are then stacked and ready to be distributed.
IPC supplies high-quality rigid extrusion compounds to manufacture a variety of extruded PVC products. Contact us to discover how our extensive range of PVC compounds can elevate your production and help you achieve exceptional manufacturing results.
