The Development of Rubber Extruders

Ram extruders were not efficient enough for mass production

Gutta percha’s particular properties (electrical resistance and biological inertness) made it ideal for use in the then booming telegraph industry, and it was not until the 1950’s that it was replaced by polyethylene.

However, ram extruders are not efficient enough for mass production as they do not allow for continuous production. It is not clear who actually invented the first screw extruder, development work was carried out during the 1870’s and 1880’s in the United States, Germany and England, and there is some evidence of one as early as 1866.

Through the 20th century technology gradually improved, with the development of cold feed extruders

By the early years of the 20th century a variety of hot feed extruders were in use. Then, the rubber extrusion process required a two roll mill to warm up the rubber ready to feed in the extruder. The uncured rubber would then be cured in an autoclave prior to being coiled or otherwise packaged for despatch, there were severe limitations on lengths and practical profiles. The process was discontinuous and although better than the ram extrusion process, still inefficient.

Through the 20th century technology gradually improved, with the development of cold feed extruders, continuous vulcanisation systems, improved screw and barrel design, progresses in compound formulation, and the introduction of synthetic polymers which were easier to extrude.

The result is that today’s rubber extrusion shop is able to produce a wide range of complex shapes efficiently in continuous lengths as required suitable for exacting applications