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Plastic Extrusion Materials

Thalia Kalozoes

There are various plastic extrusion materials you can choose from when it comes to your plastic extrusion order, with different materials playing a role in manufacturing a wide range of products, from pipes and sheets to complex profiles.

Understanding the properties and applications is essential for optimising performance, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness in the extrusion process which is why we've put together a handy guide to the various plastic extrusion materials you can choose from.

 

Plastic Extrusion Coming Out of Water Bath-1

 

 

PVC - Polyvinyl Chloride

Benefits

  • Available in both rigid and flexible profiles
  • Ideal for most weather conditions
  • One of the most affordable materials
  • Inherently clear, making colouring easy
  • Highly machinable 

Draw Backs

  • Weakens at higher temperatures
  • Some variations of the material can be difficult to colour
  • Mixed chemical resistance, depending on the use-case

Use cases

  • Drainpipes
  • Water hoses
  • Wire insulation
  • Windows & Doors
 

ABS - Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene

Benefits

  • High impact strength
  • Aesthetically pleasing with a glossy finish
  • Relatively strong
  • Highly machinable

Draw Backs

  • Lower durability in poor weather conditions, although this can be improved with UV stabilisers 
  • Mixed chemical resistance, depending on the use-case

Use cases

  • Drainpipes
  • Car production
  • Household electronics
  • Radiators
 

HIPS & MIPS - High / Medium Impact Polystyrene

Benefits

  • High impact strength
  • Weathering and finish performance can be high after treating

Draw Backs

  • Low light resistance, although this can be improved with UV stabilisers 
  • High impact strength comes at the expense of tensile strength, as well as finish
  • Generally poor chemical resistance

Use cases

  • Toys
  • Household appliances
  • Product packing
 

HDPE - High-Density Polyethylene 

Benefits

  • High heat distortion temperature (HDT)
  • High chemical resistance
  • Good rigidity and hardness
  • Inherently white, making colouring easy

Draw Backs

  • Low impact strength
  • Medium-light resistance, although this can be improved with UV stabilisers 
  • Difficult to machine
  • Surface complicated adhesion

Use cases

  • Storage boxes
  • Fuel containers
  • Bins
 

PP - Polypropylene 

Benefits

  • Very lightweight, whilst retaining strength
  • Recyclable
  • Versatile rigidity/ flexibility* 
  • Can have high rigidity*

Draw Backs

  • Not well suited to painting
  • Can have low impact resistance*
  • Can have low long-term durability*

* depending on material choice

Use cases

  • Plumbing
  • Kitchen appliances
  • Car bodies
  • Storage boxes
 

TPE - Thermoplastic Elastomer

Benefits

  • Extremely flexible
  • High impact strength
  • Generally good chemical resistance
  • Recyclable

Draw Backs

  • Heat distortion is an issue, although this can be improved with fillers
  • Colouring can only be applied after treatment

Use cases

  • Automotive

Colours

We also offer a large range of colours as standard. Where a specific colour is required but cannot be satisfied with our stock compound we can arrange the supply of a colour match sample for your approval direct from the compound manufacturers. Alternatively, we can offer a masterbatch colour match and we also have the ability to co-extrude and “skin” profiles. 

For more information on our dedicated plastic extrusion facility and our expert service, please contact us. 
Plastic Academy

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