What is Extrusion?
The plastic extrusion process creates continuous shapes with a specific cross-sectional profile. TPE or soft PVC pellets are melted and forced through a die to form a continuous profile, such as tubing, gaskets, seals, or other custom shapes.Â
Extrusion allows for precise control over the shape, dimensions, and properties of the final product, making it suitable for various applications in industries like automotive, construction, electronics, and more.
Extrusion Application Areas
Door and window profiles, weather seals, furniture surfaces and trim, film and foil, hoses, tubes, cable sheathing, to name a few. You’ll find TPE and soft PVC materials in the applications we use every day…
How do TPE and Materials Compare to Crosslinked Elastomers for Extrusion?
When comparing TPEs to crosslinked elastomers like rubber, one notable advantage is recyclability. TPE materials can be re-melted and recycled in closed-loop systems. So any scrap or offcuts can be recycled in the production process, reducing waste and costs.Â
TPEs come in different densities, giving you more options for specific applications.
And here’s the kicker: TPEs are easier to process because they don’t need crosslinking. That means less energy during production, making it faster and more efficient.Â
TPE and soft PVC for Profile Extrusion
For profile extrusion, we offer soft-PVC, TPS and TPV materials in hardnesses ranging from 20 Shore A to 60 Shore D.
Applications
Building & Construction:
Window and door profiles
Waterstops
Skirting boards
Keder profiles
Mobility:
Automotive weather seals (roof rails, belt line, glass run channels)
Train profiles
Household & Consumer:
Furniture (edge profiles)
White Goods (refrigerator, dishwasher & washing machine seals)
Industrial:
Fire door profile
Ram protection
Diverse technical profiles
Benefits
- High surface quality
- Dimensional stabilityÂ
- Various profile geometries
- High output
- Short setup time
- Low scrap rate
- Coextrusion with thermoplastic substrates
- Low Compression set
- High UV resistance
- Low Flammability
- Hydrophilic (water-swellable) grades
- Grades with raw materials compliant with food contact regulations
- Excellent Weldability
- Easy colourability (we recommend our specialised Lifobatch masterbatches)
Profile Extrusion Processing Guide
For guidance on equipment, L/D ratio, compression ratio, temperature profiles and more tips for extruding our TPE materials…
TPE and TPU for Sheet Extrusion
For sheet extrusion, we offer TPS and TPU materials in hardnesses from 50 Shore A to 40 Shore D.
Applications
Automotive + Transportation:
Soft touch surfaces and trim
Household & Consumer:
Kitchen and Furniture (trays and anti-slip mats)
Suitcases
Industrial:
Carpet backing
Packaging and transport trays
Benefits
Processing:
Vacuum forming, thermoforming
Haptics:
Low gloss
High scratch and abrasion resistance
High UV resistance
Easy Colourability (with own specialised Lifobatch compounds)
Performance:
Low odour and emissions
Adhesion to PP, PS, PC, ABS, PMMA, ASA and their blends
Soft PVC, TPE, TPV for Film & Foil Extrusion
For film and foil extrusion, we offer Soft-PVC, TPS, TPU and TPV materials in hardnesses ranging from 40 to 90 Shore A.
Applications
Personal Care & Hygiene:
Elastic Films
Building & Construction:
Masonry seals
Wet room seals
Roof sealings
Automotive:
Interior foils
Benefits
- Stable processing and adjusted viscosity
- Consistent quality (no fisheyes and specks)
- Thickness down to 40 µm
- High UV resistance
- Excellent Transparency
- Easy Colourability
- Mechanical performance (puncture resistance and high tear strength)
- Adhesion to nonwovens, tapes, and foams
Soft PVC, TPE & TPV for Tube & Hose Extrusion
For tubes and hoses, we offer soft-PVC, TPS and TPV materials in hardnesses ranging from 30 Shore A to 40 Shore D.
Applications
Automotive:
Thermal management (cooling lines)
Household & Consumer:
Drinking water pipes
Garden hosesÂ
Laundry lines
White good hoses (washing machines etc.)
Medical:
Tubing
Benefits
Anti-kinking properties
High UV resistance
Excellent Transparency and colourability
High Temperature and media resistance
TPS and TPV materials recyclable in closed-loop systemsÂ
Grades ith high product safety (medical, drinking water and food contact approvals)
Our product brands
Product Ranges for Extrusion
