Computer‐Aided Optimization of the Extrusion Process of Automobile Rubber Seal

In this work, the extrusion process of a kind of π‐shape automobile rubber seal was considered using computer‐aided simulation technology. The extrusion flow was assumed to be isothermal and steady, and the finite element method was used to analyze the extrusion process. It was found that the velocity profile was quite uneven near the die exit when a straight die, developed strictly according to the desirable product dimension, was used and the local distortion of the extrudate was fairly prominent when compared with the die geometry. We adjusted the structure of the die and predicted the extrudate's swell by the computer simulation in advance. Simulation results confirmed that the distortion of the seal was greatly suppressed if a short enlarged inflow part was added to the upstream of the original straight die. Then, the extrusion experiment, using the newly designed die, was performed under practical conditions and the swell of the rubber seal was reduced to be within the range of acceptable tolerance. The profiles of the acceptable rubber seals were also well predicted by the computer simulation. Finally, the influences of the take‐up imposed on the end of extrudate and flow rate on the final seal shape were also investigated numerically.

Keywords:

• EPDM
• rubber
• simulations
• extrusion
• rheology

5 Acknowledgements

The authors thank the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.50390090, No. 20490220, No. 10590355) for financial support for this work. The technical support from Shanghai Saic‐Metzeler Seal System Corporation is highly appreciated.