Technology Advances in the Design and Manufacture of Phenolic Torque Converter Reactors

There is growing interest in the use of discontinuous glass-fiber reinforced phenolic composite as a substitute for die-cast aluminum in torque converter reactor applications. The driving force is cost reduction, but performance enhancements are also often possible. The effective use of phenolic composite in these applications requires the careful integration of material selection, part design, and processing.

This paper presents a review of the property differences between aluminum and glass-fiber reinforced phenolic in order to provide an understanding of the important design issues. Developments involving part design, component testing, and processing are also reviewed.