Plastic extrusion melts and conveys thermoplastics through a precision die to form profiles, tubes, and sheets. Using materials like PE, PP, PVC, and ABS, the process relies on calibrated dies and cooling systems for consistent parts in construction, automotive, and packaging.
Plastic extrusion is a continuous manufacturing process in which thermoplastic pellets are melted and shaped through a die to create profiles, tubes, sheets, or films. Material is fed into a heated barrel where a rotating screw conveys, compresses, melts, and homogenizes the polymer. Process control includes temperature profiles, screw speed, back‑pressure, and line speed, all of which influence melt quality and dimensional stability. Common materials processed include PE, PP, PVC, ABS, PET, TPU, and filled or reinforced compounds. Tooling consists of breaker plates and screen packs for filtration, plus precision‑designed dies with flow channels that ensure uniform distribution and consistent wall thickness. Downstream equipment—such as vacuum calibration tables, cooling tanks, haul‑offs, and cutters—stabilizes and finalizes product geometry. A wide range of tooling materials, mainly corrosion resistant tool steels is used depending on the load conditions and environments. Plastic extrusion is widely used for pipes, hoses, window profiles, wire insulation, films, packaging sheets, and structural plastic components across construction, automotive, medical, and consumer industries.
BÖHLER M303 is a corrosion-resistant, martensitic chromium steel with very good toughness, corrosion resistance, good wear resistance and improved machinability and polishability. Compared to 1.2316, BÖHLER M303 has better homogeneity and is approved for food and beverage contact.
Read MoreBÖHLER M303 ISOPLAST corresponds to a remelted BÖHLER M303 . The variation in the production route enables greater toughness and polishability thanks to higher purity and improved homogeneity. Also available as product variant BÖHLER M303HH ISOPLAST (high-hard variant).
Read MoreBÖHLER M310 ISOPLAST is a corrosion-resistant, martensitic chromium steel which, through electroslag remelting and optimization of the chemical composition, has a good homogeneity and a balanced hardness-toughness-corrosion resistance ratio.
Read MoreBÖHLER M333 ISOPLAST is a corrosion-resistant, martensitic plastic mold steel with excellent polishability and toughness for products with highest surface requirements. BÖHLER M333 ISOPLAST is also approved for food and beverage contact.
Read MoreBÖHLER M340 ISOPLAST corresponds to a corrosion-resistant, martensitic chromium steel with improved wear resistance. This is ideal for the application area of glass fiber reinforced plastics. In addition, the BÖHLER M340 ISOPLAST is approved for food and beverage contact.
Read MoreBÖHLER M368 MICROCLEAN is a corrosion-resistant, martensitic chromium steel produced by powder metallurgy. Due to the alloy concept and the production route, the steel has a high wear resistance, high corrosion resistance and high toughness. In addition, BÖHLER M368 MICROCLEAN is approved for food and beverage contact.
Read MoreBÖHLER M390 MICROCLEAN is a corrosion-resistant, martensitic chromium steel produced by powder metallurgy. Due to its alloy design, this steel has very high wear resistance and good corrosion resistance. In addition, BÖHLER M390 MICROCLEAN is approved for food and beverage contact.
Read MoreBÖHLER M398 MICROCLEAN is a corrosion-resistant, martensitic chromium steel produced by powder metallurgy. Due to its alloy design, this steel has good corrosion resistance and higher wear resistance compared to BÖHLER M390 MICROCLEAN.
Read MoreBÖHLER M789 AMPO is a newly developed maraging steel, which combines the mechanical properties of 1.2709 with the corrosion resistance of 17-4PH. This patent bending grade can easily printed without any preheating and achieves a hardness of about 52 HRC with a very easy heat treatment. Furthermore, this material shows an excellent polishability, which makes it the ideal choice for inserts with conformal cooling in plastic injection molding and in any other application where a high hardness and corrosion resistance is of need.
Read MoreBÖHLER N685 is a corrosion-resistant, martensitic chromium steel with a high carbon content and molybdenum and vanadium additives.
Read MoreBÖHLER N690 is a corrosion-resistant, martensitic chromium steel with a high carbon content and the addition of cobalt, molybdenum and vanadium. BÖHLER N690 is also approved for food and beverage contact.
Read MoreBÖHLER N695 is a corrosion-resistant, martensitic chromium steel with a high carbon content and added molybdenum.
Read MoreUddeholm Corrax is a precipitation hardening steel with a unique set of properties that makes it perfect for many demanding applications. The superior resistance against corrosion combined with a hardness up to 50 HRC and a simple heat treatment makes Uddeholm Corrax the obvious choice for long run series of aggressive plastics such as PVC. The chemical composition makes Uddeholm Corrax easy to process by Additive Manufacturing. Hence, it is also available as powder for Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) and Laser Metal Deposition (LMD). Benefits Very good corrosion resistance Flexible hardness of 34-50 HRC achieved by ageing No hard “white layer” after EDM
Read MoreUddeholm Elmax Super Clean is a powder metallurgically produced mould steel characterized by a combination of very good wear resistance, corrosion resistance and dimensional stability. Recommended for long production runs of smaller and complicated shapes and/or reinforced plastics. High wear resistance is normally connected to low corrosion resistance and vice versa. In Uddeholm Elmax SuperClean it has however been able to achieve this unique combination of properties by a powder-metallurgy-based production. Uddeholm Elmax SuperClean offers a possibility to make long-life, low maintenance moulds for the best overall moulding economy. Benefits Less wear because of god wear resistance Less indentations because of compressive strength Less maintenance because of corrosion resistance Less adjustments after heat treatment because of good dimensional stability Standard specification AFNOR Z170 CVD 17.3
Read MoreUddeholm Impax Supreme is prehardened mould steel with very good polishing and photo etching properties. It is suitable for a wide range of injection moulds, blow moulds and extrusion dies for plastic. Uddeholm Impax Supreme is supplied at 290-330 HB. In east/south east asian countries served by Assab, Uddeholm Impax Supreme is sold as AS 718 Supreme. Benefits No hardening risks No hardening costs Time saving, e.g. no waiting for heat treatment Lower tool cost (e.g. no distortion to rectify) Modifications easily carried out Can be subsequently nitrided to increase surface wear resistance or locally flame hardened to reduce surface damage. Standard specification W.nr 1.2738 / AISI P20 / AFNOR 35 CND 7
Read MoreUddeholm Mirrax 40 is a prehardened remelted stainless tool steel, supplied at 40 HRC. Uddeholm Mirrax 40 is produced using the electroslag remelting (ESR) process – an additional step in the steelmaking process that ensures very clean steel. Consequently, Uddeholm Mirrax 40 is capable of being polished to a very high surface finish. In addition, the combination of high hardness with high toughness results in a mould with good resistance to indentations and minimize the risk of unexpected failures, leading to a safer mould and a prolonged tool life. Benefits Lower production costs Fast tool making Excellent surface finish possible Less maintenance work Safe production
Read MoreUddeholm Mirrax ESR is a through hardening corrosion resistant steel with very good polishability. Mainly intended for medium to large cross sections. It has a unique combination of toughness, corrosion resistance and through-hardening properties. Benefits Low mold maintenance costs: The surface of cavity impressions retain their original finish over extended running periods Molds stored or operated in humid conditions require less protection Low production costs: Water cooling channels are less affected by corrosion Heat transfer characteristics, and therefore cooling efficiency, are constant throughout the mold life, ensuring consistent cycle times Safe mold use because of good toughness also in big dimensions
Read MoreUddeholm Stavax ESR is a premium stainless mold steel for small and medium inserts and cores. Uddeholm Stavax ESR combines corrosion and wear resistance with excellent polishability, good machinability and stability in hardening. Mold maintenance requirement is reduced by assuring that core and cavity surfaces retain their original finish over extended operating periods. When compared with non stainless mold steel, Uddeholm Stavax ESR offers lower production costs by maintaining rust free cooling channels, assuring consistent cooling and cycle time. This classic stainless tool steel is the right choice when rust in production is unacceptable and where requirements for good hygiene are high, as within the medical industry, optical industry and for other high quality transparent parts. Uddeholm Stavax ESR is a part of the Uddeholm Stainless Concept. Benefits Low mold maintenance because of corrosion resistance: Surfaces retain their original finish Less production during storing and operation in humid condition Lower production costs: Since water-cooling channels are unaffected by corrosion Heat transfer characteristics, therefore cooling efficiency is constant throughout the mold life, ensuring consistent cycle times Long life mold Standard specification W.nr 1.2083 / AISI 420 / AFNOR Z40 CV 14 (RSL)
Read MoreUddeholm Tyrax ESR combines best in class toughness, corrosion and wear resistance. This grade was developed for molding of high performance plastics often filled with glass fiber reinforcements and additives like flame retardants. This matrix- based microstructure is designed to achieve a high-gloss surface by only a few polishing steps, dramatically reducing the tool lead time and enabling production of top quality plastic parts. Uddeholm Tyrax ESR can achieve a high hardness (up to 58 HRC) and is a suitable upgrade from AISI 420 ESR, AISI S7 and AISI 440C. Benefits good dimensional stability at heat treatment and in service even microstructure and small grain size good hardenability Uddeholm Tyrax is also available for Additive Manufacturing, powder for processing Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) and Laser Metal Deposition (LMD).
Read MoreUddeholm Vanax SuperClean is the long-awaited response to the market’s need for steel that is both strong and stainless. Combining the corrosion resistance of austenitic stainless steel such as AISI 316L, with a hardness of 60 HRC and the wear resistance of a cold work tool steel, opens up new opportunities. Where no previous materials suffice, this powder metallurgical steel grade offers resistance in the most corrosive environments possible. From start to finish, its unique material properties provide reliable performance in the most extreme conditions and for the most demanding working materials. Benefits Uddeholm Vanax SuperClean has an excellent corrosion resistance both in low and high temperature tempered condition in combination with good wear resistance to counteract mixed wear/galling/fretting. Applications are e.g. found in plastic molding, food processing and engineering designs.
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