Rubber Molding

rubber processing temperature control units

Precise temperature control is needed in a wide variety of industries including rubber processing applications. Rubber compounds are used in many products like tires, profiles, gaskets, and seals. Typically the products are molded, though they are commonly rolled or extruded as well. Tire molding currently represents approximately 75% of total rubber molding output.

Injection molding is the most efficient and cost effective method of molding rubber. Some of the benefits that distinguish this process from other approaches are:

  • Consistency
  • Tight tolerances
  • Faster production times

Considered the most cost-effective molding process, rubber injection molding is the best choice for high-volume production runs of small size products that require tight tolerances and little to no finishing.

Rubber injection molding involves feeding material into a press, which is then warmed and injected into a mold. The rubber injection molding process is the most precise compared to compression and transfer molding, because the injection process controls the pressure, temperature, and speed at which the material enters the mold. While injection molding costs more than compression and transfer molding due to higher tooling costs and longer initial setup times, it is still considered a cost-effective molding process.

However, this rubber manufacturing process requires a completely uniform temperature for optimal productivity and quality output. The method was originally developed for plastics, but was later modified and adapted to suit the unique characteristics of rubber.  In this application, rubber is heated to a temperature that is close to vulcanization, and then fed into a heated mold cavity, where it is placed under high pressure in order to produce parts that may have a great degree of detail.

Delta T Systems’ temperature control equipment is designed and tested for rubber molding applications that can require temperatures that range from 20°F to 650°F. With precise and consistent temperature control, a manufacturer can produce higher quality and a higher quantity of parts every time with reduced waste.