Pressure and temperature sensitivity analysis of palm fiber as a biobased reinforcement material in brake pad

The effect of palm fiber on properties of automotive brake composite materials is analyzed. The test procedure followed is JASO C 406, which is for passenger car pads. Tribological properties of three brake pads (6 PF, 8 PF and 10 PF) were tested on full-scale inertia dynamometer for various performance parameters such as pressure-speed sensitivity (effectiveness studies) and Temperature sensitivity (fade and recovery behaviour). A pad undergoes all the testing parameters and maintains its low temperature rise in the disc for three pressure sensitivity and two temperature sensitivity tests. By increasing palm fiber content, hardness, heat swell and specific gravity increases, and also porosity and loss on ignition decreases. Test has been conducted using scanning electron microscope to analyse the all three specimens to evaluate the contact plateaus and wear debris during braking. 8% of palm fiber content in brake pad was found to be superior to 6 PF and 10 PF in most of the important tribological properties.