Low-carbon Polypropylene homopolymers & circular solutions

Sheet extrusion / thermoforming

In sheet extrusion, plastic pellets are melted and pushed through a flat die to form a continuous plastic sheet with different width and thicknesses. This sheet is then cooled and rolled up for later use, or the sheet goes directly into an in-line thermoforming machine, also called as FFS (form-fill-seal thermoforming).

In thermoforming, the sheet is reheated until soft, then placed over a mold and shaped using vacuum or pressure. Once cooled, the plastic keeps the shape of the mold. This process is often used to make packaging trays, cups, and disposable containers.

Polychim’s Polypropylene grades comers with a stabilization and additive package that can deliver superior processability, and part performance, like: stiffness, transparency and overall mechanical performance. 

Fiber extrusion

In fiber extrusion, plastic pellets are melted and pushed through a spinneret — a metal plate with many tiny holes — to form long, continuous fibers. As the fibers emerge, they are cooled (usually with air) and stretched to make them thinner and stronger. These fibers can then be collected for further processing to make textiles, carpets, non-wovens for hygiene applications, and even special industrial fabrics.

There are different fiber spinning technologies depending on the application, like spunbond where the fibers are directly laid down into a web as they are being formed. The web is then bonded together using heat, pressure, or chemicals to create strong, nonwoven fabrics. Spunbond fabrics are widely used in products like medical gowns, hygiene products, filters, and geotextiles.