Extrusion Rubber Guide

Extruded rubber products differ from molded rubber

products based on how they’re made. Extruded
parts are forced through a die of the required cross
section under pressure of an extruder. These parts
are often made with soft, unvulcanized rubber
compounds that are fed into the extruder. The
resulting extrusion leaves the rubber in a soft, pliable
state. In this case, the finished extruded products will
typically need to be vulcanized, or hardened, before
they are rendered usable.

How Does Rubber Extrusion Work?

The rubber extrusion process begins with the rubber
compound being fed into the extruder. The material is
fed into a feed hopper, which takes the material and
feeds it into various flutes in a revolving screw. The
screw will begin to carry the rubber forward into the die,
with an increase in pressure and temperature occurring
as the material gets closer to the die itself.
Once the material reaches the die, the built-up pressure
forces the material through the openings, where it
will consequently swell to various degrees based on
the material compound and hardness. Because of this
tendency toward swelling, many extruded parts require
plus or minus tolerances on their cross sections. During
vulcanization, the extruded rubber will swell or shrink in
both its cross section and its length, depending on the
type of rubber compound used.
Extrusion Die for Extruded Rubber
An extrusion die is a precise and specific tool made by
cutting an opening through a blank of steel. The shape of
the opening will match the finished rubber cross section
desired for an extruded part. Once in place, the rubber
material will be forced through this die via the pressure
that builds up from the revolving screw of the extruder.
Many rubber compounds tend to swell when passing
through the extrusion die, causing them to experience an
increase in dimensions. Thus, each die is made according
to each particular part and material to ensure that all
tolerances are met for the finished extruded rubber part.

After vulcanization, a length of rubber extrusion will

tend to be reduced in dimension more in the center of
the length than in the ends.
ARPM Standards for Cross
Sectional Tolerance Table —
Rubber Extrusions

The closer tolerance classes outlined below should

not be specified unless required to do so by the final
application and they should be restricted to the critical
dimensions outlined by the Association for Rubber
Products Manufacturers (ARPM) below. The closer
tolerances demanded, the tighter the control that must
be exercised when the material is extruded, hence the
higher the cost incurred. In general, softer materials and
those requiring a post cure will need greater tolerances.

Dimensions in millimeters

ARPM Class 1 - High Precision 2 - Precision 3 - Commercial

Drawing Designations E1 E2 E3

Above Up to

0 1.5 ±0.15 ±0.25 ±0.40

1.5 2.5 0.2 0.35 0.5

2.5 4 0.25 0.4 0.7

4 6.3 0.35 0.5 0.8

6.3 10 0.4 0.7 1

10 16 0.5 0.8 1.3

16 25 0.7 1 1.6

25 40 0.8 1.3 2

40 63 1 1.6 2.5

63 100 1.3 2 3.2

Dimensions in inches

ARPM Class 1 - High Precision 2 - Precision 3 - Commercial

Drawing Designations E1 E2 E3

Above Up to

0 0.06 ±0.006 ±0.010 ±0.015

0.06 0.1 0.008 0.014 0.02

0.1 0.16 0.01 0.016 0.027

0.16 0.25 0.014 0.02 0.031

0.25 0.39 0.016 0.027 0.039

0.39 0.63 0.02 0.031 0.051

0.63 0.98 0.027 0.039 0.063

0.98 1.57 0.031 0.051 0.079

1.57 2.48 0.039 0.063 0.098

2.48 3.94 0.051 0.079 0.126

Rubber Extrusion Advantages Extruded Rubber Products

There are many advantages to the rubber extrusion Timco can cut custom rubber extrusions in a range of
process, including: lengths, shapes, and rubber compounds to meet various
temperature, weather, and technical specifications. Some
• Variety of shapes available of them, such as EPDM or neoprene, can be extruded like
• Efficient and economical dense rubber or like sponge rubber. Common extruded
• Flexible and lightweight products rubber products include:
• Minimal waste
• Connectors • Gaskets
• Relatively inexpensive tooling (die)
• Tubing • Spliced gaskets
• Mandrel formed hoses • Window seals for
• Door, cabinet and mass transit
window seals • Pressure switch
• Vibration reducers square tubing

Need extruded rubber products for your applications?

Give us a call at 800-969-6242.