Honeycomb extrusion die having swell relief

A honeycomb extrusion die comprising:

• a die body comprising:
• a plurality of surfaces comprising an inlet surface and a discharge surface opposite the inlet surface, and defining feedholes extending from the inlet surface into the die body;
• and
• a plurality of spaced pins defining an intersecting array of discharge slots extending into the die body from the discharge surface to connections with the feedholes within the die body, the intersecting array of discharge slots being formed by side surfaces of the plurality of spaced pins, wherein the pins extend from a pin root to the discharge surface,
• wherein the plurality of spaced pins comprises a first group of pins in a peripheral region adjacent to an outer periphery of the discharge surface and a second group of pins in a central region located inward of the peripheral region and encompassing a center point on the discharge surface;
• wherein at least some slots of the second group of discharge slots comprise a first portion comprising a first width W1 adjacent the discharge surface and a second portion comprising a second width W2 that is smaller than width W1, wherein the second portion is at a location between the pin root and the first portion.

A honeycomb extrusion die, comprising:

• a die body, comprising:
• an inlet surface and a discharge surface opposite the inlet surface;
• an intersecting array of discharge slots extending into the die body from the discharge surface toward the inlet surface,
• the intersecting array of discharge slots being formed by side surfaces of a plurality of pins, wherein the pins extend from a pin root to the discharge surface,
• wherein each of a group of pins of the plurality of pins has a first transverse dimension D1 between opposite side surfaces at a first location adjacent the discharge surface and a second transverse dimension D2 between opposite side surfaces at a second location spaced toward the pin root from the first location, wherein the first transverse dimension D1 is less than the second transverse dimension D2, and
• wherein the group of pins are spaced from an outer periphery of the discharge surface by a distance that equals at least 20% of a largest transverse dimension of the discharge surface.

A honeycomb extrusion die comprising:

• a die body, comprising:
• an inlet surface and a discharge surface opposite the inlet surface;
• an intersecting array of discharge slots extending into the die body from the discharge surface toward the inlet surface,
• the intersecting array of discharge slots being formed by side surfaces of a plurality of pins, wherein the pins extend from a pin root to the discharge surface,
• wherein a majority of the discharge slots comprise a first portion comprising a first width W1 adjacent the discharge surface and a second portion comprising a second width W2 that is smaller than width W1 at a location spaced between the pin root and the first portion.