Coextrusion lets manufacturers create plastic products that combine different useful features. For instance, you might need a part with a strong, stiff core but a soft, grippy outer layer.

 A wide variety of thermoplastics can be coextruded, including (but not limited to) ABS, PVC, polycarbonate, acrylic, polyethylene, polypropylene, and thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs).

Enhanced performance: Combining materials for specific properties.
Cost-effectiveness: Using less of a more expensive material by combining it with a cheaper one.
Design flexibility: Creating complex profiles with varying characteristics.
Improved aesthetics: Adding color or texture to specific areas of the profile.

Common applications include: window and door frames, seals and gaskets, automotive parts, lighting diffusers, consumer goods, and medical devices.

Regular extrusion uses a single material, while coextrusion uses two or more materials fed into a single die, bonding them together during the extrusion process.

Recycling can be more complex with coextruded profiles, as the different materials need to be separated. However, some coextruded profiles can be recycled depending on the materials used and the recycling infrastructure available.

Material selection depends on the specific application requirements, including:

Mechanical properties (strength, flexibility)
Thermal properties (temperature resistance)
Chemical resistance
Weatherability
Cost

Design considerations include:

Material compatibility
Layer thickness
Profile shape and complexity
Bond strength between layers

The cost depends on the complexity of the profile, the materials used, and the production volume.