New Torque Converter Clutch Friction Material Bench Test Screening Procedure

With the demand to improve the efficiency of the torque converter (TC), a greater use of a slip-controlled torque converter clutch (TCC) offers a desirable solution. An obstacle to increased utilization of the TCC is that the TCC's friction material must exhibit desirable torque capacity, wear performance, and noise and vibration characteristics.

To quickly evaluate friction material candidates, we describe a methodology for an SAE No. 2 bench test which allows for rapid deployment of an improved TCC friction material. This test improves upon the SAE J2489 clutch test by adding events and environmental characteristics which are familiar in TCC operation. The test augments the SAE J2489 transient test by adding steady state durability events as well as introducing surface characteristics of the reaction plates that more closely mimic those found in the torque converter.