The extrusion process

[Translate to Englisch:] Das Bild zeigt im Vordergrund das Werkzeug eines Extruders, wodurch die Form während der Extrusion der Kunststoffschmelze die Form gegeben wird. Das Werkzeug ist an einen Extruder angeflanscht.

The extrusion of plastics is a widely used process for manufacturing plastic products in various shapes and sizes. It is a continuous process used to produce endless components such as pipes.

The process begins with the feeding of plastic granulate into a hopper. The material is transported by a screw conveyor located in a heated cylinder.  During this process, the material is melted, homogenized, and pressure is built up.

The nozzle or extrusion tool determines the shape of the extruded plastic product. In addition to pipes, a variety of other geometries, such as sheets, profiles, films, or fibers, can be extruded.

One major area that is becoming increasingly important is the extrusion of multilayer products. In addition to the tasks already described, issues such as compatibility and interdiffusion also need to be considered. With such a complex process, it is important to understand it thoroughly in order to be able to optimize process changes efficiently.

And at TTZ-HAS?

Intensive work is currently underway to install a 5-layer corrugated pipe extrusion line at TTZ-HAS. This will enable comprehensive research and development to be carried out using state-of-the-art technology from the manufacturing industry. The expertise of TTZ-HAS in other areas such as materials development and rheology will serve as a valuable input for a wide range of research projects.