What is the Process for Co-Extrusion?

From space devices to bulletproof vests and prosthetic limbs, plastics are a vital component of technological advancement and manufacturing innovation. Crucial to any cutting-edge product is the performance of the materials from which it’s made. The co-extrusion process is an emerging way to manufacture plastics for demanding applications.

Producing better-performing and longer-lasting plastics is essential for Preferred Plastics, a top turnkey extrusion and finishing service provider for an array of industries. That’s why we love to discuss the plastics co-extrusion and its benefits.

Plastic Co-Extrusion Explained

The plastic co-extrusion process involves feeding liquid molten plastic from two extruders at different speeds and thicknesses into one extrusion head, which merges the materials together into a single structure before cooling. With co-extrusion, each material used maintains its desired characteristic properties.

Essentially, the co-extrusion process enables a manufacturer to incorporate different plastic materials and compounds into a single product to meet various functional requirements. Examples include:

Process Benefits

The primary benefit of the co-extrusion process is each extruded layer can impart different characteristics or properties onto the finished product. It’s often used for parts that require materials and features that can’t otherwise be met with single polymers. Other advantages of plastic co-extrusion include:

• High-quality mono-layer extrusion coatings in larger varieties of line speeds and widths
• Use of lower-cost materials for filling purposes
• The capability of making multi-layer as well as multi-functional structures in a single pass
• Reduction in the number of steps required in general extrusion process
• Provides targeted performance with the use of definite polymers in particular layers
• Reduction in setup and trim scrap
• Potential of recycled layer use

Future of Co-Extrusion

Plastics co-extrusion has opened up new frontiers in material engineering and addresses several manufacturing needs. When two or more plastics are combined, the resulting product has distinct properties that can improve a range of applications.

Products that can benefit from the co-extrusion process include:

• Point-of-purchase displays
• Tubing
• Seals
• Gaskets
• Hinges

Your Plastics Co-Extrusion Partner

Take your application to the next level with co-extruded plastic from Preferred Plastics. By pairing highly trained personnel with state-of-the-art equipment, we produce components or assemblies that surpass demanding dimensional, chemical, and physical requirements on time and at an affordable price.

Preferred Plastics has earned a reputation for creating high-quality products using the latest innovative technologies, all supported by superior customer service. Our co-extrusion capabilities include:

• Dual hardness profiles using multiple resins
• Simple and complex shapes
• Wide range of thermoplastic materials

For more information about co-extruded plastics, our team is standing by to answer your questions.