Manufacturing of brake friction materials

Abstract

Process of brake friction material manufacturing has a crucial impact on the future properties of brake friction material. It is especially related to the level and stability of friction and wear during braking. Development of brake friction material is strongly affected by its formulation and manufacturing conditions. Due to complex and interrelated influences between formulation and manufacturing conditions of brake friction material, it is difficult to find out the best set of manufacturing conditions, for the specific formulation of friction material, which satisfy wanted friction and wear properties. In this chapter, influence of manufacturing conditions of the brake friction material has been investigated versus its wear. In order to investigate the character of influence of manufacturing conditions, effect of manufacturing parameters on wear properties of the brake friction material has been modelled. This model was able to recognize the way of how moulding pressure, moulding time, moulding temperatures, heat treatment time, and heat treatment temperatures affecting wear of the brake friction material. The model of influence of manufacturing parameters on wear of the brake friction material was based on artificial intelligence. The model is able to make a functional relationship between a formulation of friction material and effects of chosen manufacturing parameters on its wear. It provided possibilities for searching the best set of manufacturing conditions and their adaptation to a formulation of brake friction material.