Thermal Wear in Disc Brake Friction Pads

Abstract

Brakes are used to reduce the velocity of the vehicle by applying friction between moving brake disc or drum and friction pads. Disc brakes are preferred for timely and urgent braking over drum brakes. Tribological phenomenon between friction pads and brake disc is a complicated process and need extensive study in laboratory than on vehicle. Friction pads are made out of many metallic and nonmetallic materials which are very harmful to human health. During braking, friction is taking place and friction pads wear out, as these are made from fine particles compacted by binder. Braking process converts kinetic energy in to heat energy. This generated temperature effects on the bonding of friction pad material by spreading fine particles in atmosphere. In this paper an experimentation was carried out on the brake test dynamometer to analyse the effect of temperature on friction pad material by using weighing difference method. Increasing temperature during drag braking effects on the wear rate of friction pads and brake fade. Experimental results shows that when temperature generated during braking is high then the rate of friction pad wear increases up to 1.2 g per cycle of testing whereas at less temperature it reduces up to 0.6 maximum.