Plastics Extrusion

Extrusion is a continuous process through which parts of a fixed cross-sectional profile are made. Material is fed through a hopper into an extruder, essentially a rotating screw surrounded by a heated barrel, where it is mixed, melted and pumped through a die. The die gives the part its shape. Types include film extrusion, sheet extrusion, pipe, profile and tubing extrusion.

Compounding

How To Build a Successful, Sustainable Preventive Maintenance Program

Look for problem areas, establish a baseline and follow through to keep equipment running smoothly and to prevent costly repairs or downtime.

ESSENTIAL READING

VIEW ALL

Extrusion 2 Jan 2026

How To Build a Successful, Sustainable Preventive Maintenance Program

Look for problem areas, establish a baseline and follow through to keep equipment running smoothly and to prevent costly repairs or downtime.

Extrusion 2 Dec 2025

Understanding Screw Temperature in Single-Screw Extruders

Screw temperature is almost never known because it's complex to get. Here, however, obtaining it provides extrusion process details, such as how the solid bed is pushed downstream and cooling the screw with increasing screw speeds.

Packaging 10 Oct 2025

Back to Basics: Tandem Foam Sheet Extrusion

This complex process requires precise equipment and process expertise to produce high-quality sheet. Here’s what you need to know to get started.

Postindustrial 29 May 2025

Shredding Thin Film: How to Do It Right

While many processors recoil at this task, a little know-how in shredding equipment, processing, and maintenance should add the necessary confidence.

Extrusion 30 Dec 2024

What You Need to Know About Melt-Temperature Measurement in Single-Screw Extruders

Measuring the discharge temperature is not so simple, especially when using thermocouples positioned in the transfer line just upstream of the die.

Extrusion Know How 3 Dec 2024

How to Select the Right Cooling Stack for Sheet

First, remember there is no universal cooling-roll stack. And be sure to take into account the specific heat of the polymer you are processing.

Latest Extrusion News And Updates

Film Extrusion 2 Dec 2025

LyondellBasell Installs Seven-Layer Cast Film Line at Cincinnati Tech Center

Resin maker says the investment will allow it to develop and test cast film grades in “unprecedented” ways.

Construction 30 Oct 2025

Farrel Pomini Compact System Billed as Ideal for WPC Processing

Machine can be used to cost-effectively extrude composite decking by bypassing pellet milling.

Extrusion 29 Oct 2025

Davis-Standard Invests in Tech, Service To 'Redefine Customer Experience'

Machine builder invests in new technology, new customer-service program to address customer pain points.

Recycling 20 Oct 2025

Conical Co-Rotating Twin-Screw Extruder Recycles PET

NGR introduces the Eco-Twin 220 to gently process PET while minimizing energy usage.

k show 3 Oct 2025

Reifenahäuser Develops AI Portfolio To Help Operators Solve Problems

Portfolio includes three connected products that will enable processors to rely less on highly trained personnel.

k show 25 Sep 2025

Xaloy Launches Refurbishable and Recyclable Tungsten Carbide Conical Barrel

Tungsten carbide design also enhances resistance to wear.

CFA resin density reduction faster cycle times

Featured Posts

Pipe, Profile & Tubing Extrusion 1 Dec 2025

What Makes for 'Perfect' Control in Tubing Extrusion?

Extrusion is nothing without in-process measurements. But what you do with those measurements can mean everything to transforming yields and profitability.

k show 24 Nov 2025

Cargill Polymer Processing Aid Offers an Alternative to Fluoropolymers

Incroflo uses biobased feedstocks and improves extrusion outcomes.

Pipe, Profile & Tubing Extrusion 14 Nov 2025

The Protection Business

The humble combination cap and plug gave Caplugs a cornerstone product and a name, but 75 years later the company has grown to encompass so much more.

best practices 12 Nov 2025

How This Pipemaker Streamlined Data-Management Processes

HakaGerodur centralized and digitized its data flow and certifications using software developed by Pipeson.

Extrusion Know How 24 Oct 2025

Remembering Bruce Maddock: A Pioneer in Single-Screw Extrusion Technology

The work this researcher conducted in single-screw extrusion decades ago is still being applied today.

Sheet Extrusion 10 Oct 2025

Back to Basics: Tandem Foam Sheet Extrusion

This complex process requires precise equipment and process expertise to produce high-quality sheet. Here’s what you need to know to get started.

chemical foaming agent CFA cost savings video

FAQ: Extrusion

How Much L/D Do You Really Need?

However, there are actual limits on increasing output as L/D is increased. Usually these limits are due to the inability of the feed section to deliver more polymer. On smaller-diameter screws, that limit often is determined by screw strength. On small screws you can only go so deep in screw channels before the screw is over torqued and fails. On larger extruders, the efficiency of feeding decreases as the channels get deeper until there is no further increase in output.

How Do I Select the Right Cooling Stack for Sheet Extrusion?

There are four main things to consider in selecting the correct stack for your application: the overall cooling capacity, the products to be processed, the mechanical capability, and the rolls’ internal design. Considering just the cooling capacity, the top roll is there to set the sheet thickness as well as its uniformity.

How Do You Know if Your Screws Are Working Properly?

One of the most useful evaluations is the relatively simple calculation of drag flow. Drag flow is simply half the volume of one turn of the metering section per second at a specific screw rpm, which, when multiplied by a units conversion and the melt specific gravity of the polymer, is a very accurate approximation of the output in lb/hr at no head pressure.