How to stay safe when working with TPV santoprene extrusions

TPV santoprene extrusions are common procedures in plastic manufacturing industries, as the material is versatile and the process preferable in many applications. If you are working in an environment like this, you are probably aware of the procedure. However, if you're going to work with TPV santoprene extrusions and haven't done it before, you need to know more than just the procedure itself. The most important thing for you to remember when handling TPV santoprene extrusions for the first time is the things you should do in order to keep you and the people around you safe and out of harm's way.  

Sharp granules

One important safety aspect to consider is the danger of the TPV santoprene granules in their original form. Many people disregard this danger as the granules doesn't look like they could harm anyone, but the granules can be sharp, and cause cuts in your skin as you're pouring it into the machine. The TPV and TPE granules can also get under your skin and get stuck there, in which case you'll need medical assistance to get it out. Make sure that you always wear appropriate safety gloves that go far up on your arm to protect yourself from this, and make sure you're wearing them especially when pouring the granules into the machine.

Burning hot plastic

The TPV santoprene can also be dangerous as it heats up. The molten plastic can reach very high temperatures that could cause serious burns if you were to come in contact with it. You should take extra care when working close to the die. Any leaks, no matter how minimal, between the auger and the die can cause the burning hot plastic to shoot out in high speeds due to the amount of pressure formed in the machine and injury you severely if you're standing too close. Avoid this area when the machine is operating and wear a protective overall in a fire proof material.

Dangerous dust

You also need to think about safety after the extrusion is done. The santoprene dust created by the cutting process can be hazardous to breathe in large quantities of. When cleaning up after the extrusion process, you need to take care so that nobody has to be affected by this dust. Avoid using compressed air to clean the workspace, as this sets the dust off flying through the shop. Instead, clean it up with a moist rag or cloth that can pick up all the leftover dust and bind it to the rag so that you can just throw it away afterwards.