These days high quality plastic extrusion profiles are made from a wide range of materials. Extruded Plastic profiles comes in a wide variety of shapes, colour and sizes. Modern extrusion lines can handle tubes that has a diameter of 160 mm and profiles that are 350 mm wide. Let's have look at the choice of plastic materials for extruded profiles. The image here shows some of the popular extruded plastic profiles.

Materials for Extruded Plastic Profiles
If we categorize the plastic materials used for the extrusion it would be found that Flexible and rigid PVC remains the most popular plastic material used for extrusion. Among others the major plastics used are HDPE, LDPE, Poly propylene, PMMA, and PS. But it must be kept in mind that the different thermoplastics that are used meet different performance and cost requirements. The table that follows takes a closer look at some of the materials that are typically used in making extruded profiles from plastic material.

MATERIAL	KEY ADVANTAGES	APPLICATIONS
ABS	Ability to withstand high temperatures. Good adhesive properties.	Pipes, hosing, refrigerator, fridge and freezer parts.
Acetal	Excellent resistance to hot water and organic chemicals. Very good friction and abrasion qualities.	Display stands, light diffusers, point of sale holders etc.
Acrylic	Crystal clarity Exceptional resistance to chemicals, weather and environment.
Polystyrene (HIP)	Good adhesive properties.	Packaging and coving
Polyethylene	Can be supplied both in high or low density. Good resistance to chemicals and low temperatures.	Packaging, gas and water piping, protective covers
Polypropylene	Tough material Good resistance to chemical environments. Ability to withstand high temperatures.	Tubing and hinge components.
PVC	Good flexibility for different applications.	Trims, hosing sleeps etc.
UPVC (rigid PVC)	Extremely versatile Wide range of colours Low cost	Windows, Tubes, glazing
Clear PETG	Good clarity Excellent resistance to chemicals High gloss
Polycarbonate	High temperature performance Extremely strong Choice of wide range of grades	Light diffusers, Low voltage light tubes for marking etc.

Some materials for extruded profiles are highlighted here:

• PVC Extruded Profile
• Extruded LDPE

Parameters to Select the Best Plastic Material in Extrusion Design Aesthetics Rigidity Flexibility Smell Heat Stability UV Stability Flame retardation capacity Chemical Resistance Impact Strength

A Buyers Guide for Design Consideration in Extruded Plastic Profiles
A good design of the extruded plastic profiles should ensure cost-effectiveness, uniform good quality etc. The following design tips may prove to be useful for designing a plastic extrusion. Ideally from the design point of view, design considerations can be broken down to two parts. They are the following:

Basic Die Design

• Flat Plate Die
  Plate that has the shape of the part cut through a die. There is no transition to guide the material. This low cost design is suited ideally for low volume production runs.
  
  
• Semi-streamlined Die
  At the back of the die the edges and corners have radii to help the material transition into the die.
  
  
• Fully Streamlined Die
  The die is able to aggressively channelize the plastic material throughout the die in an even manner. This design however is not cheap so ideally suited to high production runs.

Part Design

• Consistent Wall Thickness
  Coming to wall thickness, of the profiles, an uniform wall thickness is one of the most vital aspect in the design of the part. It permits an even flow of material through the die. Thus resulting in more controlled parts along with a lower tooling expenditure.
  
  
• Hollow Section Design
  Ideally designing of profiles with hollow sections should be avoided. They are known to add significantly to the cost of the part as well as the tooling.

Design Tips for Co extruded Profiles

• A dual extrusion for the shape of a modular cabinet wall panel.
  
  
  
• In case flexible sealing portion wears out due to abrasion, a flexible insert can then be slid into the rigid plastic slot as a replacement.
  
  
  
• Common dual extrusions of rigid and flexible PVC.
  
  
  
• Cross section of a window frame that has a metal embodiment.
  
  
  
• Applications for metal embodiment extrusions.
  
  
  

Application of Extruded Plastic Profiles
Extruded plastic profiles have successfully made in roads into a number of critical industries. These products are known for their flexibility and diversity.

Typical plastic profile applications: Angles Custom Component Parts Edging Hollow Profiles Integrated Circuit Carriers Packaging Tubes Plastic Bumpers Plastic Protectors POP Displays U Channels

Some of the critical industries served here are highlighted here:
Medical Industry
In the medical industry extruded plastic profiles are used in the following segments. They are medical device components, medical instruments and medical processing aides. Let's take a look at the products now.

• Extruded Tubing
  A wide range of extruded plastic tubes today are used in critical medical applications. In medical industry adhering to tight tolerances for the extruded products is an absolute must. Extruded Medical Tubing are produced in various shapes that includes rectangular, round, square, triangular etc. Products that are extruded and co-extruded includes:
  • Single lumen tubing
  • Multi lumen tubing
  • Multi layered tubing
  • Thin wall tubing
  • Dual wall tubing
  • Surgical Tubing
  • Medical catheter Tubing

Buying Tips for Extruded Plastic tubes used in the Medical Industry As Extruded plastic tubes are used in a number of critical medical products that includes oxygen, transfer of air, and fluid, intravenous sets, laboratory pipettes; swabs, pre-filled syringe packaging; cardiac catheter, packaging etc. As a Buyer you should be asking these vital questions while procuring extruded medica tubes. If the products are certified by competent agencies? If the products are made by following closer tolerances and tight specifications? Whether the products are made in a clean environment? If the products are fully Radiopaque? Ensuring the products are customized and spooled to perfection.

Automotive Industry
In the automotive industry there are many instances of use of extruded plastic profiles. The following image gives an overview of the extent to which plastic extrusion is a compulsory feature in automobiles.


Some of the popular extruded profiles as used in automobiles include:

• Fuel resistance Tubes
  Some of the advantages associated with extruded fuel resistance tubes includes: resistance to flames fuels and liquids, operating capability in high temperatures, low temperature flexibility.
  
  
• Extruded Plastic Trims
  Edge Trims are used in a car and truck doors. Options in the form of adhesive also comes with the Extruded Trims. Some popular shapes of edge trims are shown here:
  
  

Building Industry
Extruded Plastic profiles are used extensively in the building industry. Plastic siding profiles have a global use. Some of the profiles used are office furniture, partitioning profiles Nozing, False Floor Beading, Thermal Breakers, fencing, decking, siding, bevelled Skirting, Thermal cover, Cove Track etc. Window profiles are also very popular.

Other industries
Other industries that uses extruded plastic profiles include:

• Refrigeration and Airconditioning
• Electrical
• Agriculture
• Food processing
• Aerospace
• Pharmaceuticals