Extrusion seal devices and methods

A method of extruding material comprising:

• providing an extruder, the extruder comprising:
• a barrel having a barrel width structured to contain and pass an extrudable material;
• a piston assembly including a handle connected to a piston, the piston structured to fit at least partially within the barrel, wherein the piston assembly enables a user to push the extrudable material through the barrel by applying force to the handle;
• and
• a seal device disposed within the barrel adjacent to the piston and between the extrudable material and the piston, wherein the seal device comprises:
• a body including a first end and an opposing second end that define a height of the body, a side surface extending between the first end and the second end, and defining a first width of the body, wherein the first end is substantially parallel to the second end, the second end defines a substantially planar surface extending across the first width, and wherein the body comprises a substantially firm material, and
• a lip extending radially from the body at or near the second end to define an edge, the edge defining a second width, wherein the edge has a radius and the second width is greater than the first width, wherein the lip comprises a resilient material, and
• wherein the body supports the lip enabling the edge of the lip to flex, wherein the second width is nearly the same as the barrel width, and the body is releasably coupled with the piston such that the seal device is released from the piston when sufficient force is applied to the piston in a direction away from the seal device;
• placing material in a feed end of the barrel of the extruder, wherein the barrel has an extrusion end opposite the feed end;
• placing the seal device in the feed end of the barrel adjacent the material such that the seal device is behind the material relative to the extrusion end;
• placing the piston of the piston system at least partially within the barrel adjacent the seal device such that the piston is behind the seal device relative to the extrusion end;
• and
• applying a force to the handle to extrude the material from the extrusion end of the barrel through a die disposed at the extrusion end via the seal device via the piston.