Full definition
A continuous manufacturing process in which compounded rubber is forced through a precisely shaped die to produce profiles of constant cross-section at rates of 5-100+ meters per minute. The extruder consists of a screw (60-250 mm diameter) rotating inside a heated barrel, feeding rubber through a die head, followed by continuous vulcanization in a hot-air tunnel, microwave oven, salt bath, LCM (liquid curing medium), or steam autoclave. Products: sealing profiles (P, D, E, U, J, bulb, and custom cross-sections), hoses (mandrel or mandrel-less), cord (round cross-section), tubing, and weatherstrips. Materials: EPDM (most common for weatherstrips and seals), silicone (medical tubing, oven seals), neoprene (fuel-resistant profiles), and NBR (oil-resistant hose). Dimensional tolerance: ±0.15-0.30 mm on critical dimensions. Die design is critical — rubber swells 5-30% after exiting the die (die swell), requiring compensation in the die geometry. Per standard rubber extrusion practice. Quality: continuous laser scanning of profile dimensions.