In the manufacturing process of clutch facings, the utilization of a mold release agent plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and efficiency of production. As an essential element in the production of clutch facings friction materials, it interacts closely with clutch facings mixtures and clutch facings mixes.

A mold release agent is applied to the surface of the mold used in the production of clutch facings. Its primary function is to prevent the clutch facings mixture from adhering to the mold during the molding process. This ensures that the formed clutch facings can be easily removed from the mold without damage, maintaining their shape and integrity. Usually, a very small amount of mold release agent, about 0.5% – 1.5% by weight of the clutch facings mixture, is sufficient to achieve effective release.

By preventing adhesion, the mold release agent significantly improves the surface quality of clutch facings. In a quality inspection, clutch facings produced with a mold release agent had a 95% pass rate in terms of surface smoothness, while those without it had only a 70% pass rate. Smooth – surfaced clutch facings can ensure more uniform contact with the clutch plate, resulting in better friction performance and longer service life.

The use of a mold release agent reduces the time and effort required to remove the clutch facings from the mold. On average, the demolding time can be reduced by 30% – 40%. This allows for a higher production throughput, with the production capacity of a typical production line increasing by about 25% – 35% when a mold release agent is used.

Since the mold release agent prevents the clutch facings mixture from sticking to the mold, it reduces the wear and tear on the mold surface. In a long – term production test, molds treated with a mold release agent had a 50% longer lifespan compared to those without, saving costs associated with mold replacement.

Some mold release agents may leave residues on the surface of the clutch facings. In a chemical analysis, up to 0.05% of the mold release agent residue was detected on the clutch facings surface. Although the amount is small, this residue can potentially affect the friction performance of the clutch facings friction materials. In a friction coefficient test, clutch facings with mold release agent residues showed a 5% – 10% deviation in the friction coefficient compared to clean samples.

High – quality mold release agents can be relatively expensive. The cost of a mold release agent can account for about 3% – 5% of the total production cost of clutch facings. For large – scale production, this cost can accumulate significantly, affecting the overall cost – effectiveness of production.

In summary, the use of a mold release agent in clutch facings production brings about several benefits in terms of product quality and production efficiency. However, manufacturers need to carefully consider the potential issues of contamination and cost to make the best use of this agent in the production of clutch facings friction materials.