Extrusion in plastic waste recycling

Our journey of plastic recycling discovery goes on!

Last time, we explained how cleaning and decontamination of plastic waste take place. In this article, however, you learnt about the waste grinding process, which is an important step, too.

Today we’ll talk about… extrusion! Do you know what’s this about?

Lots of products are made of high-quality recycled plastic today – and we owe it to this important step.

It’s intriguing, don’t you think? 

Learn everything about extrusion in this new Are you R’s article!

What is extrusion?

Extrusion is essential to obtain the so-called pellets, which are real plastic granules that have been “extruded” – from Latin extrudĕre, which means to pull out, to extract.

This is an essential step of the mechanic recycling process that leads to a very-high-quality recycled material by using specific technologies.

How does it work?

Three different machines are used during the whole extrusion process, that is cutting-edge technology, which aims to achieve a high-quality end result. This translates into new, recycled products, which are both useful and functional. In this article, the focus is on the first machine, which is known as extruder.

The primary function of the extruder is to melt the plastic material, which was previously reduced to scales through a grinding process where a heated, turning screw is used. It can be a single screw or a twin screw.

Moreover, it makes it possible to remove the gaseous components incorporated in the material itself, which are generated by the presence of inks or contaminants. By doing so, an excellent end result can be guaranteed. Let us remember that, indeed, the more homogeneous and the less contaminated the resulting material is, the better the result will be. That’s why this step is so important – along with waste cleaning and decontamination!

As you can see, the extrusion process is part of a virtuous cycle – also called second life for plastics – that makes it possible to give a new life to plastic waste.

Follow us and get to know about the next step of this magical recycling journey!