DEVELOPMENT AND STUDY OF TRIBOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE OF BIO- BASED HYBRID NANOCOMPOSITES FOR BRAKE PAD APPLICATION

In this study, a novel bio-based hybrid nanocomposite brake pad (BHN) has been developed and investigated to serve as a functional replacement for metallic, ceramic, and hazardous asbestos-based brake pad materials. Carbon nanospheres (CNSs) synthesized from agro-waste were incorporated with other carbon-based constituents and additives to produce brake pads. The tribological, mechanical, and solvent absorption properties of BHN brake pads were examined with caution and compared with conventional (CON) brake pads. In this work, the properties of friction materials varied with CNSs loading made with different parameters; the experimental results showed that the brake pad performance changed with each pad formulation. The BHN brake pad material showed better performance than the CON brake pad in most tests. The friction coefficient (COF) of the BHNs brake pad samples (0.3 to 0.5) was within the standard of SAE J6 61 CODE. The BHN brake pad (0.18 % to 1.97 %) absorbed lower water content than the CON brake pads (2.02 %), and most BHN brake pads similarly absorbed a smaller amount of oil (0.11 % to 0.42 %) compared to the CON brake pad. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image of CON brake pad worn surface was inconsistent with stress yielding surface texture, while homogenous dispersion, wear debris, flakes, and plateaus were observed in the BHN brake pad. These improved properties were attributed to CNSs incorporation and the homogenous dispersion of additives forming a synergistic effect, producing a tougher structure, which eventually improved BHN brake pad performance.