As one of the core technologies for polymer material processing, plastic extrusion has made significant progress against the backdrop of China's continuous manufacturing upgrade. This article will delve into the latest developments, innovative applications and future trends of China's plastic extrusion technology.
1.1. Intelligent extrusion production line
China's leading plastic machinery manufacturers have successfully developed fully automatic intelligent extrusion systems that integrate Internet of Things (IoT) technology and artificial intelligence algorithms to achieve real-time monitoring and automatic optimization of production parameters. These systems are able to continuously improve process parameters through machine learning, reducing scrap rates by up to 30% while increasing energy efficiency by more than 15%.
1.2. High-precision microporous extrusion technology
In the field of medical catheters and microfluidic chips, Chinese companies have broken through the technical bottleneck of microporous extrusion below 0.1mm. Through innovative mold design and precise temperature control systems, a dimensional tolerance of ±0.01mm has been achieved, and product quality has reached the international advanced level.
1.3. Multi-layer co-extrusion technology breakthrough
The latest seven-layer co-extrusion production line has been put into use in many domestic companies, especially for food packaging and barrier material production. This technology can accurately combine plastic materials with different characteristics, maintaining the functionality of the packaging while reducing the cost of raw materials.
2.1. Biodegradable material extrusion process
In response to national environmental protection policies, Chinese researchers have successfully developed a special extrusion process for biodegradable materials such as PLA and PBS. By improving the screw design and temperature control system, the problem of high thermal sensitivity and narrow processing window of biomaterials has been solved.
2.2. Efficient extrusion technology for recycled plastics
The new recycled plastic pretreatment-extrusion integrated system can directly process sorted waste plastics, and through melt filtration and devolatilization technology, the quality of recycled plastic products is close to that of virgin materials. This technology promotes the development of the circular economy.
2.3. Low-energy green extrusion equipment
The new extruder that uses electromagnetic heating instead of traditional resistance heating, combined with an efficient and energy-saving screw design, reduces energy consumption by up to 40%. Some leading companies have achieved "carbon neutrality" certification for extrusion production lines.
3.1. Large complex cross-section extrusion
In the fields of construction and transportation, China has been able to produce large plastic profiles with a width of more than 2 meters for door and window systems and rail transit interiors. Innovative mold cooling systems and online detection technologies ensure product consistency and stability.
3.2. High-performance composite extrusion
The direct extrusion process of carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastics (CFRTP) has made a breakthrough, achieving a fiber length retention rate of more than 80%, significantly improving the mechanical properties of the product, and providing a new solution for lightweighting of automobiles.
3.3. Precision extrusion of 3D printing wire
In response to the market demand of additive manufacturing, a high-precision 3D printing wire extrusion production line with a diameter tolerance of ±0.02mm has been developed. With the online diameter monitoring and automatic adjustment system, the product quality has reached the world-class level.
4.1. Deep integration of digitalization: The extrusion process will be further combined with digital twin technology to achieve virtual commissioning and predictive maintenance.
4.2. Supercritical fluid-assisted extrusion: Supercritical CO2 is used to reduce material viscosity, achieve low-temperature processing, and expand the application possibilities of heat-sensitive materials.
4.3. Intelligent material development: Through the analysis of extrusion process big data, reverse guidance is provided for the design and synthesis of new polymer materials.
China's plastic extrusion technology is changing from "following" to "running side by side" or even "leading". Driven by technological innovation and industrial upgrading, it will continue to contribute Chinese wisdom and solutions to the global plastic processing industry. With the "14th Five-Year Plan" increasing its support for high-end equipment manufacturing, China's plastic extrusion technology is expected to achieve new breakthroughs in precision, efficiency and sustainability.
