Articles

25 Years of Research and Innovation in Die Casting Release Agents

For decades, Jodovit has been developing and producing release agents and lubricants for die casting, anticipating and responding to the evolving needs of a market increasingly focused on both technical performance and environmental sustainability. The evolution of formulations has consistently aimed to enhance performance while reducing environmental impact, marking a clear shift from traditional products to more advanced solutions.

From Traditional Lubricants to Synthetic Innovation

Up until about ten years ago, lubricants used in die casting were primarily composed of mineral oils and waxes. In addition to their environmental impact, these materials often resulted in poorly finished cast parts and molds that became dirty very quickly.

The introduction of synthetic compounds, including silicones, marked the first real revolution in the industry. These compounds demonstrated greater thermal stability and improved mold cleanliness, while also facilitating the removal of carbonaceous residues from the finished parts.

Jodovit's Breakthrough: Historical Evolution and Innovation

Aware of the challenges, Jodovit established an intensive research program at its laboratories in Lonate Pozzolo. The studies focused on various proprietary technologies with the goal of identifying objective parameters and developing increasingly advanced formulations.

One of the most common challenges when a foundry has to choose a release agent is managing mold surfaces that are not perfectly temperature-regulated. Foundry managers want a release agent that works well under all operational conditions—whether for small or large parts, molds with localized hot spots, overheated cores, or areas that require high lubricity for easy ejection.

Ideally, the foundry manager would like to use a single release agent across the entire facility—possibly recyclable, non-metalizing, and capable of providing clean release without leaving any residue outside the cavity. These requirements were once partially met by oil-and-wax-based products, which, however, produced heavy fumes, discolored molds, and insufficiently clean castings.

The alternative solution was synthetic release agents. In past decades, both Jodovit and several American and German companies encouraged the transition to these cleaner products. The die casting industry was being strongly pushed to phase out the use of heavy, low-quality mineral oils for both technical and environmental reasons. In response, Jodovit shifted its production toward synthetic oils and waxes, focusing on more sustainable formulations.

The Limitation of Early Synthetic Products

A key drawback of early synthetic products was their narrow application range—they lacked the flexibility to adapt to varying mold configurations. A change in tooling could render the release agent ineffective, leading to residue buildup or metal sticking, and often requiring rebalancing of the formulation. This clearly conflicted with the goal of having one universal product for the whole foundry.

With LUBRAX, You’re Already in the Future: Discover Formulations That Feel Like “Alien Technology”

Jodovit continues to invest in research and development to boost product performance. Today, LUBRAX die casting release agents feature characteristics that make them suitable for a wide range of operating conditions—often allowing a single product to be used across the entire foundry.

These products do not contaminate molds or leave residues, making them ideal for small, complex components as well as large parts and less temperature-regulated molds.

Specifically, LUBRAX release agents ensure exceptional cleanliness of both the parts and the molds. They do not stain outside the cavity, do not leave residues, and—most importantly—do not cause metallization, even in the hottest and most stressed zones of the die casting process.

Scientific Approach, Sustainable Performance

By adopting a structured and scientific approach, Jodovit has strengthened its leadership in the sector, offering versatile and cutting-edge products that deliver high performance with a low environmental footprint.

This commitment continues to drive the company toward the future of die casting, with the determination to deliver top-level performance worldwide—wherever aluminum casting aims to be competitive and of the highest quality.