Mold release agent and method of application for die casting

Abstract

A die cast mold release agent comprises a lubricant selected from at least one of the group of silicones, olefins, vegetable oils, waxes and organic esters of fatty acids preferably very little water. A method is of application of The pressure die cast mold release agent is disclosed where a die casting machine has a mold with mold halves forming a mold cavity when the mold halves abut against one another, a shot sleeve and a plunger which pushes molten material through the shot sleeve and into the mold cavity. The mold release agent is placed into the pressure die casting machine remote from the mold halves, molten material is introduced into the shot sleeve, and the molten material and the mold release agent are forced into the mold cavity by movement of the plunger into the shot sleeve.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A pressure die cast mold release agent comprising, in combination: 
 a lubricant selected from at least one of the group of silicones, olefins, vegetable oils, waxes and organic esters of fatty acids.    
     
     
         2 . The die cast mold release agent of  claim 1  wherein the lubricant comprises at least 71 percent by weight of at least one of the group of silicones, olefins, vegetable oils, waxes and organic esters of fatty acids.  
     
     
         3 . The pressure die cast mold release agent of  claim 1  wherein the lubricant comprises greater than 80% by weight silicone.  
     
     
         4 . The pressure die cast mold release agent of  claim 1  wherein the mold release agent comprises less than 5% by weight of water.  
     
     
         5 . The pressure die cast mold release agent of  claim 1  wherein the lubricant comprises one of a liquid, a solid, and an encapsulated liquid having a solid exterior.  
     
     
         6 . A die cast mold release agent comprising, in combination: 
 a lubricant selected from at least one of the group of silicones, olefins, vegetable oils and organic esters of fatty acids;    wherein the mold release agent comprises less than 19 percent by weight of water.    
     
     
         7 . A die cast mold release agent comprising, in combination: 
 greater than 40% by weight of a lubricant selected from at least one of the group of olefins, vegetable oils, organic esters of fatty acids and waxes; and    greater than 5% by weight of a silicone.    
     
     
         8 . The pressure die cast mold release agent of  claim 7  further comprising less than 19% water.  
     
     
         9 . A die cast mold release agent comprising, in combination: 
 an encapsulated lubricant comprising a plurality of beads, wherein each bead has a solid exterior and a liquid interior.    
     
     
         10 . The pressure die cast mold release agent of  claim 9  wherein the encapsulated lubricant is selected from at least one of the group of silicones, olefins, vegetable oils, waxes and organic esters of fatty acids.  
     
     
         11 . A die casting method for a die casting machine having a mold with mold halves forming a mold cavity when the mold halves abut against one another, a shot sleeve with a pour hole to receive molten material, and a plunger which pushes molten material through the shot sleeve and into the mold cavity comprising, in combination, the steps of: 
 placing a mold release agent into the pressure die casting machine remote from the mold halves and remote from the pour hole;    introducing molten material into the shot sleeve; and    forcing the molten material and the mold release agent into the mold cavity by movement of the plunger into the shot sleeve.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of applying the mold release agent to a runner connecting the mold cavity to the shot sleeve.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of applying the mold release agent to a gate inlet connected to the mold cavity.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of applying the mold release agent at the shot sleeve.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the mold release agent is applied into the die casting machine in the presence of air.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the mold release agent comprises a lubricant selected from at least one of the group of silicones, olefins, vegetable oils, waxes and organic esters of fatty acids.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the mold release agent comprises one of a liquid, a solid, and a bead having a solid exterior and liquid interior.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising 
 a runner connecting the mold cavity to the shot sleeve;  
 wherein the molten material is introduced adjacent the runner.