Manufacturing services · Chapter A · Method 07

Rubber & silicone extrusion

Uncured compound is forced through a shaped die to make continuous profiles, cords and tubes, then cured in a hot-air or salt-bath line.

Ask about this method All Silicone & rubber methods

Extruder die head producing a continuous profile. Representative process photo · Fraunhofer IFAM · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

How it works

Rubber & silicone extrusion, step by step.

A labelled schematic of the process (not to scale), and the four steps every job goes through.

Labelled diagram showing how rubber & silicone extrusion works — Schematic · not to scale. Drawn by TCI Group.

STEP 01

Feed

Strip-feed compound into the extruder screw.

STEP 02

Shape

Compound passes through a profile die.

STEP 03

Cure

A continuous oven or bath vulcanises the profile.

STEP 04

Cut & finish

Cool, cut to length, splice or join into rings.

Reference figures

What to expect.

Typical industry values to help you plan. We agree the figures for your part on the drawing.

ToleranceISO 3302-1 E1– E3Class agreed per profile

LengthContinuousCut or coiled

HardnessShore A 30–80Typical

ToolingLow-cost diesFast to change

Materials	HCR silicone, EPDM, sponge silicone and EPDM, NBR, neoprene; food and pharmaceutical silicone grades.
Finishes	Smooth or matte extruded skin; flocked, low-friction or adhesive-backed options.
Design guidance	Keep wall thickness as even as possible. Avoid sharp internal corners; dies swell differently at corners. Specify which dimensions are critical; others float.
Best suited to	Door and hatch seals, tubing, cord, edge trims and gaskets made into rings.
Watch-outs	Die swell and cure shrink make tight tolerances harder than moulding.

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Reference figures are typical published industry values for planning, not a guarantee; final tolerances, materials and finishes are agreed in writing for each project.