These days Profiles of a wide variety of
designs and shapes are extruded. Popular extruded materials include metals
like aluminium, polymers, ceramics to even foodstuffs. Creating an ideal
profile is not easy. In fact Extruded or co-extruded profiles must offer
benefits to both processors and original equipment manufacturers(OEMs). This
basic idea is illustrated in the form of the following diagram.
Shapes of Extruded profiles
Extruded profiles are also known by the name of shaped extrusions. Products
like Pipes and tubes though are examples of extruded profiles but are
categorized separately as they represent on their own a considerable and
large market. Generally profiles take non circular or asymmetrical shapes.
However it is quite possible to have exceptions in the form of circular or
symmetrical extruded profiles. Example being capillary tubing. Profiles can
range from solid, hollow, or a typical combination of solid and hollow. It
must be noted that shapes and sizes of extruded profiles are limitless as is
the number of applications. Some of the popular and standard shapes of the
extruded profile are shown below.

Popular
shapes may include
- Hollow sections as in window frame profiles
- Tapes, edgings and gaskets
- Combination of rods with different cross sections
- Structural shapes in the form of a T, U, I, or H
- Squares
What's new in Extruded Profiles
A new process to hit the all important profile product line is coating
of different profile-shaped materials. The substrate materials on which
the coating is applied can include steel, wood, aluminum, and plastics.
These types of profiles are also termed as coated products |
Materials For Extruded profiles
There are a variety of materials that are used in making extruded Profiles.
The major types are highlighted here.