is the process of pressing two or more materials through the same die to produce a single piece. When multiple plastics are combined, the result can yield properties distinct from those of a single material. Coextrusion has opened up new frontiers in material engineering and addressed several previously difficult manufacturing needs.
Coextruding a stripe of radiopaque plastic into a catheter, for example, improves x-ray quality as the catheter moves through a vein without compromising the effectiveness of the catheter itself. Coextrusion can also reduce costs by using recycled and reground scrap inside virgin material for handrails, fences and other applications. The process can be seen in projects as diverse as tubing and structural components or air blown food containers.