Extrusion process and the role of high quality auxiliary machine

Extrusion is a high profile process which is essential in the production of pipes and other Plastic products. Here, we discuss the extrusion process and the role that auxiliary machines play in ensuring a high quality product achievement.

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Overview of the extrusion process

Extrusion is a process that consists of a plastic material being heated and made to pass through a hole where it is molded. On the other hand, the resin is placed in the hopper of the extruder which is a kind of large funnel, and is used for the deposit and channeling of granular or pulverized materials.

The raw material that enters in batches has a chemical composition which is required for the optimal process. The heat chamber of the machine is heated and thus the granular materials melt and later a device that is driven by an electric motor forces the plastic to come out through the matrix that is designed with a specific shape.

Based on the above, this article will expose everything related to the composition and operation of the extrusion line.

Extrusion line

The extrusion line is an industrial process by which the raw material is transformed into an industrial product with a uniform cross section. Extrusion dies are those designs that have been made to optimize the behavior of extrusion lines and extend the range of application. In this sense, there are three extrusion dies: Hybrid profiles, basket dies and ceramic dies.

In hybrid profiles, two original materials can be thermally separated during the extrusion process. At the end that two flows are obtained, these can be joined when reaching the same temperature. As reinforcement of the extrusion some other material such as steel can be included. This process is very common today in tire production.

Ceramic dies are currently being developed for the production of zirconia dies for the extrusion of metal profiles. The zirconium material is used for the manufacture of these dies for its properties that are highly desirable such as its high thermal and chemical stability, hardness and resistance to corrosion and abrasion. To reinforce the conventional chrome coatings to prevent the passage of fluids towards the base metal, ceramic coatings are used since this material fills the micro cracks that may exist and does not cause an increase in the thickness of the chromium coating, if not this could corrode the base metal and its conventional chrome coating would come off.

The auxiliary machines.

These include the components that work together to ensure efficiency of the machine and the production process. They include the following;

• Socket or Head for tubular film.

• Cooling Ring

• Calibration Units

• Pull Unit

• Pull Rollers

• Winders

Calibration and cooling

High quality auxiliary machines are required in the extrusion process to ensure that the product realized at the end are of standard value. Also important is the calibration and cooling process. Through the head at a temperature, a tube comes out which is forced to cool with water to obtain a desired diameter. Calibration can be done using internal pressure or under vacuum. The tube is then cooled in a water spray bath. For the tube to have a homogeneous wait, it must exit the extruder at a constant speed.