Plastic strips are used in a large variety of consumer and industrial applications. Plastic strips are often used to create plastic frames or trim in doorways, improving energy efficiency and limiting the loss of hot or cold air. These types of plastics are often found in:
- Walk-in coolers or freezers
- Interior passageways
- Doorways in homes, apartments, hotels, etc.
- Loading dock doors
Plastic Extrusion Technologies works with PVC, polyethylene, polypropylene, and other thermoplastic resins to produce extruded plastic strips. We specialize in the creation of plastic extruded profiles and custom tooling. Plastic extrusion is a continuous plastic fabrication process. At the beginning of this extrusion process, a collection of raw plastic material and molten plastic is placed in a hopper suspended above an extruder. The plastic is released from a hopper and enters a conveyance channel where a rotating screw forces the plastic down the channel as it turns. As the plastic moves down the extrusion machine, the friction caused by the turning of the screw causes the plastic to melt.
Plastic and Vinyl Strips
Long, narrow plastic sheets are also referred to as strips. They are often placed in doorways for climate control purposes in industrial and commercial settings. Most plastic strips are characterized by length and narrowness. Often times they are used as building trim, components in furniture, vehicle trim, and more.
Plastic strips are made from raw materials including high and low density polyethylene, PET, polystyrene and many other plastic materials. During the plastic extrusion process, additives and colorants are added to the raw materials (melted plastic), depending on the customer’s requirements. Each material is chosen based on its qualities, such as its melt temperature. PVC is often chosen because of its resistance to UV rays.
Plastic strips are used in a variety of industries such as construction materials because of their durability and smooth finish. They are commonly found in:
- Edging
- Fences
- Weatherstripping
- Window frames
- Tubing
- Jacketing
- Tracks
- Wire insulation
- Machine trim
Why Plastic Extrusion is Used
Plastic extrusion, or plasticating extrusion, is a high volume manufacturing process where a thermoplastic material, such as granulates, are melted and forced out of a shaping die by means of pressure. The pressure comes from the screw rotation against the heated barrel wall. When the plastic passes through the die, it keeps the shape and leaves the extruder. The product is then passed onto cooling sizers for further processing.
The extruded product is known as extrudate. Extruders consist of four zones:
- Feed Zone
- The distance between the diameter at the top of the flight and diameter of the screw at the bottom of the flight is known as the flight depth.
- Transition Zone
- The flight depth starts to decrease in this zone. The thermoplastic material is compressed and begins to plasticize.
- Mixing Zone
- To ensure the plastic material is completely melted and mixed, a special mixing element is often used.
- Metering Zone
- The pressure pushes the melted plastic through the shaping die in this zone.
Plastic Extrusion Technologies
For more information on our finished products, feel free to visit our Plastic Extrusions Profile Gallery.
If you require plastic extruding services, contact Plastic Extrusion Technologies for more information. With over 100 years’ experience working with plastic products, we would be happy to answer any questions you might have and meet your business’s needs. We also specialize in plastic tubing extrusions, plastic profile extrusions, and many different types of polymers.
If you have questions about production, or need a quote, give us a call at 877-439-4896.