PVC semi-finished products and extruded sections

PVC , like aluminium, is used under the form of extruded profiles, above all in the fabrication of windows and doors.

Conformation of extruded profiles, in bars, is possible thanks to the machines which allows ?holding? the required shape and size through sudden cooling.

The first phase in PVC processing is blending of the components. Inside the extruder the blended powder is heated to such a temperature as to favour its "gelification". After the cooling phase, a protective film is applied in the final zone of the extrusion line serving to protect the extruded bars until installation of the finished window.

The profiles obtained from extrusion are subsequently submitted to a series of self-tests by production personnel and laboratory staff as well as outside testing by Certifier Bodies in accordance with current European standards.

The PVC profiles for window fabrication are machined and cut by means of aluminium and PVC working machines . The profiles obtained by extrusion should also meet the requirements of the UNI standard which defines them as: rigid, impact-proof polyvinyl profiles for window/door manufacture.

The extruded profile should be submitted to constant and stringent testing in order to maintain an optimum level of quality in accordance with the directives embodied in the European standards.

The PVC profiles obtained by extrusion are submitted to various types of manufacturing tests covering two main aspects, namely:

To ensure that the manufactured profiles have a geometry conforming to the one defined by the system drawing
To make sure that extrusion is correct and that the level of gelification of the material is sufficient to obtain the specified mechanical and physical properties

Performance requirements of extruded PVC profiles for window fabrication:

Good workability when cutting,
Good weldability,
Perfect linearity,
Holding of characteristics (flatness, squareness..) and dimensional tolerances.

Additional components

In all types of PVC windows, besides the profiles, other components are also needed during manufacturing such as: metal reinforcements, weather stripping, hardware.

In fact the fabrication of a product, whether window, door or shutter requires the combined use of different types of profile, with different components (weather stripping, hardware, reinforcements, etc.).

The set of profiles, both main and secondary, used in fabricating a specific type of window or door is defined as system.