The invention discloses an improved die assembly for the extrusion of
thermoplastic resin cellulosic fiber composite profiles meant to minimize
and substantially prevent the occurrence of melt fracture on the surface
of the extruded composite profiles. Comprising the die assembly are a
balanced flow passage having a heated compression zone, a heated
transition zone, a heated converging die zone, a die land, which
corresponds to at least a portion of the downstream end of the flow
passage and is cooled to temperature below the melting point temperature
of the thermoplastic resin. The invention also discloses a production
process for composite profiles which include the steps of providing resin
and fiber, producing a composite compound, processing the compound
through an extrusion system, extruding the compound through the die
assembly to form the desired profile, cooling the profile and cutting it
to length. Also disclosed are products produced by the production
process.