Development of Iron Based Brake Friction MMC Used for Military Aircraft Application by A New P/M Route

Abstract

A new P/M route based hot powder pre-form forging process has been evolved to develop high density brake materials for heavy duty applications. Number of iron based MMC’s so developed offer better characteristics for braking applications in comparison to the materials developed through conventional P/M route based on high pressure compaction and pressure sintering. The process so developed in the present investigations is much simpler and easy to adopt by existing P/M industries. Hot powder pre-form forging technique for making heavy duty brake pads offers better opportunity for pore free material with better bonding between various metallic and non-metallic constituents. After conducting an initial characterization such as hardness, density and Pin-on Disc tests, the samples were tested for high energy (32,933kgfm) on Sub-scale dynamometer under Rejected Take Off conditions. The results have also been compared with respect to brake pads employed in heavy duty Military aircraft tested under identical laboratory conditions. The present work indicates that the newly developed materials compare better than the one being currently employed in heavy duty aircraft. The reasons for better performance are improved processing technique and resulting higher levels of density and improved binding of the product.