Rubber extrusion is a continuous manufacturing method used to produce long profiles with a constant cross-section, such as gaskets, weatherstrips, hoses, and cable sheathing. Raw rubber is fed forward by a screw mechanism and pushed through a die that shapes the desired cross-section, then cured along a continuous vulcanization line.
Steps in the Extrusion Process
- Preparing the rubber compound
- Feeding and compressing in the extruder
- Shaping the cross-section through the die
- Continuous vulcanization (oven or salt bath line)
- Cooling and winding/cutting
- Dimensional and visual inspection
Advantages of Extrusion
Extrusion enables economical, continuous production of long constant-section products. For profiles ordered by the meter, tooling costs are generally lower than injection molding, and production speed is high.
Typical Extruded Products
- Door and window weatherstrips
- Sealing profiles
- Hoses
- Cable sheathing and insulation profiles
- Foam (sponge) rubber profiles
Quality Control Checkpoints
Cross-section dimensions, surface quality, and hardness are checked at regular intervals along the production line. Consistency in parameters such as extrusion speed, temperature profile, and line tension is critical for maintaining dimensional tolerances.
Alpin Rubber manufactures custom cross-section extruded rubber profiles for a range of industries, in line with customer drawings.