PHYSICOCHEMICAL ASPECTS OF THE WORK OF PASSENGER CAR BRAKE LININGS. Part I: THE EFFECT OF FRICTIONAL ADDITIVES

Abstract

The paper presents the influence of various systems of abrasive additives which determine the performance of the friction materials of brake pads. A friction material was used for the tests, in which the base recipe was modified with various types of abrasive additives: 1. “low steel” – of low steel content, containing aluminium and chromium oxides; 2. “hybrid” – containing in addition to abrasive components from the low steel family, abrasive components such as zirconium silicate, magnesium oxide or iron oxides, which are characteristic of the family of asbestos-free organic materials (NAO); and 3. “mild hybrid” – containing abrasive components found in the friction materials of the NAO family, on the formation and structure of the so-called third body on the surface of the brake disc as a result of braking. High-resolution scanning electron microscopy with an X-ray analyser (SEM-EDS) equipped with a focus ion beam (FIB) was used to study film thickness, morphology, and chemical composition. The results of the physicochemical analysis of the third body were correlated with the results of tribological tests on a brake dynamometer adapted to the measurements of acoustic signals (NVH – noise, vibration and harshness). The tests were carried out in accordance with the SAE-J2522 procedure, commonly known as AK-Master. The obtained results confirm the important role played by the so-called third body, formed on the surface of the brake disc for safety (COF), durability (wear of friction elements) and the acoustic spectrum accompanying braking.