Plastic Rods
Plastic rods are extruded in much the same way plastic
tubing and plastic profiles are, except that plastic rods are solid instead
of hollow. Used in a wide variety of applications from point of purchase displays
to structural support, plastic rods can be coextruded with different types
of plastic or other materials to strengthen the rod's core or to cut
to down on material costs. Rods are sometimes filled with metal and used in
industrial equipment and construction as structural support; in applications
requiring little structural strength, plastic rods may be coextruded with lower
cost material on the inside, cutting down on both the manufacturer's
and the customer's cost.
Many manufacturers of equipment for aerospace, transportation, electronics,
marine and petrochemical use solid plastic rods as raw materials to be machined
into parts for bearings,
corrosion-resistance, gaskets,
seals, insulation, sleeving and static control. Plastic
sheets and blocks are also used to make parts in many of the same industries;
both plastic
sheets and plastic rods are ideal materials for these industries due to plastic's
unique properties of low density (low weight), structural integrity, nonconduction,
low porosity and properties of heat and corrosion resistance. Plastic is not
only light and easily shaped, but its different types offer a broad selection
of desired properties.
Acetal plastic rods, for example, are chemically-resistant and have very low
water absorption, making them popular for food processing applications; acetal
has relatively low strength and resistance to high heat, however, and applications
which require high strength and heat resistance use PVC or noryl. PVC is commonly
used in sewage treatment, building exteriors, metal anodizing and chemical
processing because of its high heat, fire and chemical resistance. Other types
of plastic, such as acrylic and HDPE, are valued for their flexibility, scratch-resistance
and their ability to be easily machined.