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Current Status and Development of Rubber Extruders

Time：

2021-07-14

Since its introduction in 1870, the rubber extruder has undergone more than a century of development, passing through three major stages: hot-feed extruders, cold-feed extruders, and screw‑type cold-feed extruders. When using a hot-feed extruder, the rubber compound must first undergo thermal refining to achieve the required temperature and plasticity before it can be extruded into shape. Because hot-feed extruders offer continuous extrusion, simple operation, high production efficiency, and stable product geometry, they continue to be employed in the manufacturing processes of many products today.

Since its introduction in 1870, the rubber extruder has undergone more than a century of development, undergoing three major evolutionary stages: hot-feed extruders, cold-feed extruders, and screw‑type cold-feed extruders.

When using a hot-feed extruder, the rubber compound must first undergo thermal refining to reach the required temperature and plasticity before it can be extruded into shape. Because hot-feed extruders enable continuous extrusion, are easy to operate, and offer high production efficiency, Extruded products exhibit excellent shape stability; therefore, hot-feed extruders are still widely used in the manufacturing processes of many products today.

Cold-feed extruders are a new type of extruder that emerged in the 1960s and gained widespread adoption and application in the 1970s. Their introduction has streamlined production processes, as the rubber compounds fed into the machine no longer require prior thermal mixing.

The rubber compound is fed into the extruder at room temperature, yielding extrudates of various shapes. In processes employing a cold-feed extruder, the compound first passes through the feed zone, where its temperature rises, before entering the plasticization zone. In this zone, the screw typically features a master–auxiliary thread configuration, ensuring thorough plasticization and mixing. The compound then proceeds to the extrusion zone, where, depending on the product’s requirements, it is subjected to a specific pressure. Finally, it exits through the die and die land, forming extrudates with diverse cross‑sectional profiles.

Rubber extruders have undergone three stages of development, culminating in today’s pin‑type cold‑feed extruders. These machines not only deliver significantly improved extrusion performance but also, thanks to their excellent plasticizing capabilities, low die‑temperatures, and high output rates, are increasingly widely employed in rubber manufacturing.

Development Prospects of Rubber Extruders

Rubber extruders are key equipment in the rubber industry, and with advances in rubber‑production technologies, both extrusion techniques and extruder designs have evolved rapidly. In production processes, rubber extruders have progressed from initial shaping extrusion to replacing open mills for hot mixing and rubber supply, and now to the co‑extrusion of various rubber components. Moreover, in recent years, extrusion systems that directly replace calenders for producing thin rubber sheets have also matured. These developments underscore the rapid advancement of rubber extruders in recent years. The localization of advanced equipment facilitates the adoption of new machinery and technologies, elevates enterprises’ equipment standards, and boosts production growth. In particular, the rapid expansion of radial tire manufacturing in China in recent years—coupled with the inherent advantages of pin‑type cold‑feed extruders—has further strengthened their market appeal, positioning them as successors to hot‑feed and conventional cold‑feed extruders and opening up broad prospects for their development and application.