How are Rubber Components Created and Shaped?

Rubber is a material that has been used since ancient times. It originates in South America, where the native people obtained rubber from the rubber trees using a process known as rubber tapping. Nowadays, we have many kinds of rubber, including this naturally obtained rubber, as well as the types that have been made in a laboratory which have different properties. We use it in all kinds of ways, and it is a valuable part of life, from the obvious rubbers used in school, to components from machines in our homes and factories.

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To get rubber to do some of the jobs that it needs to do, it needs to go through a process known as rubber moulding. This is carried out by companies like this rubber moulding UK based company meadex.co.uk/rubber-moulding who have all the skills and equipment required to do this.

The rubber arrives at a specialist facility in its raw state. There are many techniques that can then be used to turn it into the desired object for use, and this depends on what it will be used for, as well as the type of rubber that it is. Here are a couple of the processes which the rubber will go through in order to make the things that we need…

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Injection Moulding – This is a process that uses high pressure to fit rubber into a particular mould. The rubber is heated up to a high temperature before being forced into a mould from something known as an injection barrel – hence the name. Although this is a more costly method of doing things, it is good for large volumes of rubber materials as then it works out as better value.

Compression Moulding – This is the process used to place the rubber directly into a mould where it is then heated up and pressure is added. This is a process used for smaller amounts of materials as the wastage can be higher when this method is used for moulding the rubber to shape.

Both of these types of moulding are popular ways to get rubber to become a certain shape, and it is all dependent on many factors as to which one is used to create the items.