The Rubber Extrusion Process
10th February, 2022
The rubber extrusion process is used to manufacture rubber products. Whereby an extrusion machine forces synthetic or natural rubber material through a shaped die using a high level of pressure, shaping the rubber into a pliable state which is then vulcanized to harden the piece into the desired product.
What is the Rubber Extrusion Process?
The rubber extrusion process starts with a rubber compound being fed into the extruder. From there, the chosen rubber material is fed into a feed hopper, which essentially feeds the material into a revolving screw. The shearing screw carries the rubber into the die, with the pressure and temperature increasing the closer the material gets to the die. As the material reaches the die, the accumulated pressure forces it through the openings. The material will swell to certain degrees based on the hardness and compounds, with some extruded parts requiring plus or minus tolerances on their cross-sections due to this tendency towards swelling.
During vulcanization (hardening rubber from heat and sulphur), the extruded rubber will either swell or shrink in its length or cross section, depending on the rubber compound that has been used. Typically, the length of rubber extrusion tends to be reduced in dimensions in the centre rather than the end after vulcanization.
Benefits of Rubber Extrusion
There are a range of benefits to using the rubber extrusion process for manufacturing rubber. Not only is the process more efficient in terms of reduced waste volumes, but the process is more economical, with production costs generally being lower than other production methods.
In addition, the extruded rubber products themselves have their own beneficial properties. These products are extremely durable and long-lasting and are highly durable to chemicals, heat, cold and abrasion, making them ideal for use in harsh or extreme conditions.
The rubber extrusion process can also be used to produce a wide variety of products that vary in shapes and sizes, which helps the team at Aquaseal Rubber create custom products that meet our clients’ needs. The rubber extrusion process is commonly used to manufacture the following rubber products, marine fenders, angle extrusions, T and P profile extrusions, side skirts and a variety of seals.
Extrudable Rubber Materials
The Rubber Extrusion process can be used for a wide range of natural and synthetic rubber compounds, including EPDM, nitrile SBR, neoprene, synthetic polyisoprene, Viton, and silicone. We extrude a variety of rubber compounds to meet the needs of our clients.
Custom Rubber Extrusion Specifications
At Aquaseal Rubber, we offer a bespoke service to help our clients decide which rubber products best meet their requirements, We will assess the operating environment the product will be used in to identify the required properties of the rubber. All our products are available in a wide range of materials suitable for any environment.
We offer solutions to all your requirements no matter how large or small. Contact us to learn more about the rubber extrusion process or Aquaseal Rubber’s extrusion capabilities, and how our services can help you.
