Thermoplastics, or plastic materials that can be heated and molded, are becoming a common way for those in manufacturing to acquire parts that work specifically for your application. From the construction industry to the home improvement, medical, automotive and aerospace industry, plastic extruded products are more and more commonly used.Thermoplastics can be a complicated and dense topic for many, but it does not have to be! Learn the basics of thermoplastics for your next project here.
Thermoplastic parts are those that include materials that, when heated to a specific temperature, become a plastic substance that can be formed into a shape that will fit into another object or can be used as a standalone part. Examples of these include everything from weather stripping that fits into the edges of doors and windows in cars and in homes to intravenous delivery lines that are used to administer fluids and medications to patients in hospitals and clinics.
When considering a thermoplastic material, you will have a wide variety of options available, including PETG, PVC, high density polyethylene (HDPE), butyrate, low density polyethylene (LDPE), polystyrene, polypropylene and vinyl. Each of these materials has specific characteristics in terms of base heating temperature, color, rigidity, ability to withstand UV exposure and variations in temperature. When choosing your material, taking into account the way that these thermoplastics behave is critical to the success of your project.
One of the best aspects of thermoplastics is that they generally can be recycled and reused. Once they are collected, they can be reheated and shaped into something new instead of filling a waste facility.
Learn more about thermoplastics from Extrudex. Call us today to talk about your next extrusion project and how our expert team can help.