In the production of high – performance clutch facings friction materials, Corundum has emerged as a promising additive in clutch facings mixtures and mixes. Its unique properties endow clutch facings with distinct characteristics that are crucial for the overall performance of the clutch system.

Corundum is renowned for its high hardness, with a Mohs hardness of 9. This makes it one of the hardest materials used in clutch facings production. When incorporated into the clutch facings mixture, it significantly improves the wear resistance of the clutch facings. In a wear – test conducted for 200,000 clutch engagement cycles, clutch facings with 15% corundum by mass showed a 40 – 50% reduction in wear rate compared to those without it.

The thermal conductivity of corundum ranges from 25 – 40 W/(m·K) depending on its purity and crystal structure. This relatively high thermal conductivity allows for efficient heat dissipation in clutch facings. In a test where clutch facings with 10% corundum were subjected to continuous high – friction operation for 45 minutes, the maximum temperature on the surface of the clutch facings was 15 – 20°C lower than that of clutch facings without corundum.

Corundum has a density of approximately 3.95 – 4.1 g/cm³. When added to the clutch facings mixture, it can increase the density of the final product. For example, in a clutch facings mix with 20% corundum by volume, the density of the clutch facings increased by about 8 – 10% compared to the base mixture without corundum.

Due to its high hardness, corundum provides outstanding wear resistance to clutch facings. In heavy – duty industrial machinery, where the clutch experiences frequent and high – load operations, clutch facings with corundum can have a much longer service life. A real – world application in a large – scale industrial press showed that the clutch facings with 18% corundum had a service life 50 – 60% longer than those without it.

The relatively high thermal conductivity of corundum enables efficient heat dissipation from the clutch facings. This is crucial in preventing the clutch facings from overheating during operation, which can lead to material degradation and reduced performance. In high – performance vehicle clutches, the presence of corundum can ensure that the clutch facings maintain their integrity even under extreme driving conditions.

Corundum is chemically stable and resistant to most common chemicals. This property makes the clutch facings with corundum suitable for use in environments where they may come into contact with various chemicals. In a chemical – resistance test, clutch facings with 12% corundum showed no signs of degradation after being exposed to a range of acidic and alkaline solutions for 72 hours.

Corundum is a brittle material. When added to the clutch facings mixture, if not properly processed, it can cause the clutch facings to become more brittle. In a bending – strength test, clutch facings with a high content (over 25%) of corundum showed a 20 – 30% reduction in bending strength compared to those with a lower content. This brittleness may lead to cracking or chipping of the clutch facings during operation.

High – purity corundum is relatively expensive, which increases the material cost of clutch facings production. Using corundum can raise the material cost of clutch facings by 30 – 50% compared to some more common friction – enhancing materials. This cost factor may limit its widespread use in some price – sensitive applications.

Corundum’s hardness makes it difficult to process during the manufacturing of clutch facings. Special processing techniques and equipment are required to ensure proper dispersion of corundum particles in the clutch facings mixture. For example, it often requires high – energy milling to break down the corundum into suitable particle sizes, which adds to the production complexity and cost.

In conclusion, Corundum offers significant advantages in clutch facings production, such as exceptional wear resistance, efficient heat dissipation, and chemical stability. However, its brittleness, high cost, and difficult processing pose challenges that need to be addressed. Manufacturers need to develop appropriate processing methods and formulations to fully utilize the potential of corundum in the production of high – quality clutch facings friction materials.