Extrusion
Moving Die Parts Change Profile Shapes 'On the Fly'
Change one tubing lumen into two, or two lumens into three, or even split one tube into two in a “Y” shape: These are some of the dramatic alterations that can be made “on the fly” with a novel articulated die concept available for license from Specialty Silicone Fabricators, a medical tubing maker in Paso Robles, Calif.
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Slip Agents: Extended Performance Range for Polyolefin Films
Newer specialty slip masterbatches go beyond traditional capabilities to provide greater thermal stability, reliability, and ability to hold COF steady during laminating.
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Microlayer Films: New Uses for Hundreds of Layers
Early microlayer films gave an iridescent shimmer to decorative packaging. The newest films with hundreds and even thousands of layers are designed for gas barrier, uv blocking, electronic displays, and high-strength window-glass laminates. As applications grow, more processors want in on the action.
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Fixing the Mixing in Wood-Plastic Profiles
Color consistency and durability are critical to wood-plastic composites, especially in outdoor applications.
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A Relic of Plastics’ Rough and Ready Days
In 1955, Allied Resins and Allied Resinous Products were prosperous, creative compounding and extrusion operations, respectively, situated across the street from each other in Conneaut, Ohio.
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Nine-Layer Blown Film: Why It's a Challenge, What It Takes to Succeed
Eight years after nine-layer blown films were first introduced, only a handful of processors have mastered the challenges of making them. Machine suppliers are now setting up lab lines that could make entry easier.
Read More50 Ideas That Changed Plastics
Very few readers of this issue can remember, or even imagine, what it was like when an injection molding machine did not have a screw, but only a smooth-bore plunger.
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A Plant Designed by Efficiency Experts
Hi-Tech Profiles Inc. in Pawcatuck, Conn., extrudes stock and custom medical and industrial profiles out of engineering resins that cost from $3 up to $35/lb.
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Fix Thickness Variations in Extruded Sheet
Non-uniform thickness in extruded sheet is a serious problem.
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'Corrugator Vacuum Forming'
Molding separate hollow parts on a pipe corrugator is a home-grown technique used by a small number of processors. They discovered it offers higher outputs and numerous other advantages over blow molding for making tube-shaped, precision medical, automotive, and appliance parts. But the process has not yet realized what could be its greatest potential in closed-end parts like bottles.
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