Coconut waste fiber used as brake pad reinforcement polymer composite and compared to standard Kevlar‐based brake pads to produce an asbestos free brake friction material

Abstract

AbstractThe awareness of eco‐friendly materials has increased the demand for natural fibers. Natural fibers have many advantages over other materials like short growing time, easy availability, cheap, and eco‐friendly with good mechanical properties. WHO has announced that trending materials have many side effects on the environment and on human beings. Asbestos has been already a proven cause of many cancers. In this research Coconut fiber, a natural fiber has been used in the brake pad as a brake friction material. The different percentage of Coconut fiber 2‐8 wt% was used to develop new brake pad samples and that compared to standard brake pad material (Kevlar with 2%–4%). The results of physic‐mechanical properties reveal that tensile modulus, ultimate compressive strength, impact energy, and flexural strength were showing good performance at 2% polymer composites matrix, and ultimate tensile strength, shear strength, and proof showing good performance at 6% fibers contents in brake pad composites. Thermal stability for Coconut fiber fibers composites increases with increases the fiber contents.