Having the proper door and window parts can improve the efficiency of your home. Plastic window and door extrusions can improve the quality and efficiency of your home, ultimately lowering the costs of your energy bill. In this blog, we will explore the benefits of plastic window and door extrusions, and how they are created.
Benefits of Plastic Window and Door Extrusions
Cost-Effective
Plastic extrusion is an affordable manufacturing process, meaning that your plastic extruded door and window products will be more affordable than metal or wood solutions. Additionally, plastic extrusion requires less processing and labor, further lowering your production costs.
Durable
Plastics and plastic extruded products are very durable and suitable for use in a wide range of environments and applications. These extruded parts are resistant to moisture, corrosion, and chemicals while also being less susceptible to damage from impacts. This makes plastic window and door extrusions ideal for use in harsh environments while reducing the need for frequent repairs or replacements.
Energy-Efficient
Many plastics offer good insulating properties, making plastic window and door parts effective for use in energy-efficient buildings. With these insulation properties, they can prevent cold or warm air from entering and/or exiting buildings, reducing the cost of your energy bills.
Easy to Fabricate
Many plastics are very easy to machine and fabricate. This will allow you freedom of design while also reducing the cost of fabricating your plastic extruded products.
How Plastic Window and Door Extrusions are Made
There are many different processes that can be used to create plastic window and door extrusions. Some of the common extrusion processes we use at okawa to create these products include co-extrusion, dual durometer co-extrusion, and tri-extrusion.
Co-Extrusion
Co-extrusion simultaneously extrudes two or more different compatible metals or plastics through the same die. This extrusion process allows each material to maintain its desired characteristics, such as rigidity, flexibility, or resistance to heat or chemicals.
Dual Durometer Co-Extrusion
This extrusion process fuses two materials with different areas of hardness by extruding two materials through the same die. Dual durometer co-extrusion gives the product both structural integrity and flexibility.
Tri-Extrusion
Tri-extrusion simultaneously passes three different, compatible plastics through the same die. This process creates a product where each material retains its original properties but is compounded into a singular part.
Common Plastics Used to Create Plastic Window and Door Parts
PVC
PVC exhibits dimensional stability, electrical insulation, low flammability, chemical resistance, and little creep. This plastic is easy and cost-effective to manufacture through extrusion and can be used to create either rigid or flexible parts and products.
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate is a high-strength polymer that is resistant to impact and fracture. It is also lightweight, and is resistant to UV, chemicals, and heat.
Polyamide
Polyamide exhibits high wear resistance and thermal stability. It also has very good strength and hardness while also providing high mechanical characteristics. This polymer is also resistant to many chemicals.
ABS
This polymer has high rigidity, good weldability, and insulation properties. Additionally, it exhibits good impact and abrasion resistance with high dimensional stability.
Polypropylene
Polypropylene is a cost-effective polymer that has good thermal stability, chemical resistance and durability.
Polyethylene
Polyethylene is an extremely versatile polymer. It exhibits good chemical resistance, flexibility and weather resistance.
