The extruder barrels are part of the extruder machines used in the production of profiles and other shapes. They are manufactured using extremely hard-wearing as well as corrosion-resistant materials which are often bimetallic.

The barrel is typically wrapped with heater bands, or with cast-aluminum heaters to provide an improved heat distribution. The lining of the barrel is heat treated and typically lined with a material for increasing the wear as well as resistance to corrosion. Extruder barrels are made with wall thickness of at least 25 mm. This ensures that the barrel is able to withstand pressures generated in the extrusion process. Small clearances are essential between screw flights and the barrel wall for preventing back flow of molten resin and a possible surge in the out put of the extruder. The following image shows a screw inside a barrel:

Features of Extruder Barrels
Following are the features of an extruder barrel:

• An extruder barrel assembly typically comprises of a tubular body that is threaded with a rupture disk connected to the process end.
  
  
• Each of the extruder barrel is unique in application and needs a particular combination of threading, dimensions and body configuration.
  
  
• EB assembly is directly mounted into the extruder equipment via a pressure port or a thermocouple-well where critical pressures are felt.

Installing Extruder Barrel
It is vital that the rupture disk of an extruder barrel should be mounted flush with the wall(inner) of the extrusion device. A device that is improperly designed would present an area that can result in excessive product build-up, effectively rendering the extruder barrel totally ineffective.


Buying Tips
When ordering extruder barrels consideration about the following points are useful:

• What is the end configuration
  • Hex
  • NPT
  • Wrench
  • Screwdriver
• What would be the material of disk and the body?
• What would be the Burst specification?
• Dimensions