Dealing with extrusions means a lot of technical terms and options to consider. Figuring out whether you need a plastic extrusion or a polymer extrusion can cause a lot of confusion. Here are just a few things that will help you to solve the plastic and polymer extrusion puzzle:
• Aren’t they interchangeable terms? Some people may use the terms polymer and plastic when they really mean one or the other in referring to an extruded product. While you can use either term, not knowing whether you want a plastic or a polymer can create a bit of confusion. Knowing which one you want to use will help you to get the best results.
• What exactly is a polymer? Using the term polymer means that you are referring to a specific material. These materials are created from multiple layers of small molecules, called monomers. When these monomers are layered together, they become a polymer.
• What makes up a polymer? A polymer is made up of components that you have heard of before, such as proteins and nucleic acids. This is one of the areas that makes a polymer different from a plastic. Proteins and nucleic acids, commonly called biopolymers, are not found in plastic extrusions.
• What’s the bottom line? The bottom line is that the difference between a polymer and a plastic is that one has slightly different materials than the other. Polymers have elements that put them in the class of this material, while plastics may be excluded. The difference is that plastics and polymers may have some materials in common, but not all.
Does that solve the confusion for you? Give the experts at Extrudex a call today to learn more about how you can have your own custom extrusion project completed.