Extruded tubes are very popular with a diverse range of applications. A variety of plastic material is used to make these tubes. Examples of extruded Plastic tubing includes drinking straws, medical tubing etc. Not only thermoplastics other materials that are used in the extruded tubings include aluminium, magnesium etc. The image shows a typical extruded tube:

A typical process to a plastic tubing process is discussed here. Tubes are manufactured by extruding of molten polymer. The molten polymer is passed through a die that comes with the desired profile shape. Hollow sections can be extruded by putting a pin or mandrel on the inside of a die, and positive pressure is put on the internal cavities via this pin.

For tubing that requires multiple lumens (holes), the tooling is generally made by proper placing of more than a single pin on the center of a die, for producing the required number of lumens. The following image describes a typical tubing extrusion process.


Materials for Extruded tubes
Material for extruded tubes can be broadly classified into two categories they are plastics and metals.

Plastic material for extruded tubing

• Polyethylene
• PVC
• Urethanes/polyurethane Tubing
• Polystyrene
• Nylon
• Polypropylene
• ABS

Metals for extruded tubing
In the category of metal the popular choices are:

• Aluminium
• Copper
• Magnesium

Advantages of extruded plastic tubing
The plastic tubing is ideal for miscellaneous low to medium pressure applications. Extruded plastic tubing offers the following advantages:

• Low Hydrocarbon Permeation
• Strong and Burst Resistant
• Versatile
• Conductive
• Non-conductive
• Cost-effective
• Easy to assemble
• Tolerant to temperature extremes
• Flexible
• Light weight

Applications of extruded plastic tubes

• Medical applications
• Fuel Supply, Return and Vent Lines
• Fuel Rail Crossover Tubes
• Vapor Recovery Systems
• Climate Control Vacuum Hoses
• Air Suspension device
• Roof Drains

Extruded PVC Tubing
Extruded PVC Tubing is used for applications where the primary requirement is of flexibility, toughness, lightweight and clarity.
Extruded PVC tubing is manufactured from very versatile compounds that are available in the sector of plastic tubing industry. Some of the features of extruded PVC tubings include:

• Ability to withstand a broad range of temperatures
• Resistance to corrosion
• Resistance to solvent and chemicals
• A high cut through resistance
• Excellent flexibility

Polystyrene Tubing
Polystyrene (PS) is a thermoplastic compound, that is popularly used to extrude polystyrene tubing. Some of the features of extruded polystyrene tubing that makes it a perfect choice includes:

• Excellent resistance to moisture and chemicals
• Environmentally not harmful
• Excellent rigidity
• Good thermal stability
• High melt strength

Extruded polyethylene tubes
Extruded polyethylene tubes suits those applications perfectly where the requirement is flexibility.

• Polyethylene Tubing is essentially an engineered plastic. It serves industries like food & beverage, laboratories, scientific instrumentation, pharmaceutical etc. Let's see some of its features:
• Polyethylene Tubing possesses a high level of inertness
• Ability to withstand repeated flexing
• Virtually crack resistant
• Very low co-efficient of friction
• Excellent compatibility to chemicals
• Cost effective

Urethane/Polyurethane Tubing
Urethane/Polyurethane Tubing is one of the most popular forms of extruded tubes. They are used in wide ranging and critical industrial applications. Some of the areas of application includes string weed trimmers, pressure measuring apparatus, air tools, computer equipment, robotics, control instrumentation, vacuum equipment, and many products in medical industry. Some of the features that makes the extruded polyurethane tubings the popular choice includes:

• Excellent tensile strength
• Exceptional burst strength
• Good resistance to abrasion
• Ability to withstand wide ranging temperatures

Extruded Aluminium Tubes
Extruded aluminium tubes are a popular choice for application in many of the industries, there is a considerable usage of it in the automobile industry examples include in air cooling systems, car radiators, condensers, air conditioning, heating devices and in tubes for oil as well. Another popular application lies in the building sector where it is used in frames for shades.

Extruded Copper Tubes
Extruded Copper tubes have an extensive use in many industries they are common in plumbing systems, as fire sprinkler systems, airconditioning and refrigerator industry etc.