Decoding Genuine Ceramic Pad Formulations- Materials and Processing 2021-01-1277

The need to develop genuine ceramic composites for PV applications arose to overcome the challenges associated with traditional semi-metallic pads. The main focus is to achieve better performance, low noise, better pad and rotor wear, and low dust compared to semi- metallic pads. In general, brake pads convert kinetic energy to thermal energy through friction, and operating temperature in semi-metallic brake pads is higher due to the presence of steel having high thermal conductivity. Over the last decade, the customer preference has moved over to ceramic pads due to light coloured pad surface, low rotor and pad wear and low dust compared to semi-metallic pads. The traditional steel has been replaced by Aramid, engineered ceramic fibre, potassium titanate (TISMO D), lapinus fibre (RB 250) to impart similar/better performance. The current work investigates the characterisation of genuine ceramic and semi-metallic composites. Three genuine ceramic and one semi-met composite have been designed and evaluated for physical, mechanical and performance properties. All the composites have been tested on brake inertia dynamometer for AK Master (SAE J2522), AK Noise (SAEJ2521) and Wear (SAE J2707B) using a Volkswagen Golf calliper. The type of composite significantly influences friction, pad wear, rotor wear, noise and physical properties. Based on selective testing, it has been concluded that genuine ceramic composites have moderate friction, whereas friction level is higher in the semi-met composite. The pad and rotor wear rate of genuine ceramic composites is significantly lower as compared to semi-met. The noise and vibration properties of genuine ceramic pads are better than semi- met composite. The ceramic pads are also scorched for a better initial bite.