1. Why Use Aramid Pulp?
Aramid pulp, known as poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) pulp, is a highly fibrillated product of aramid fibers. It appears fuzzy with a texture similar to wood pulp. This fibrous structure allows excellent bonding with other materials and ensures uniform dispersion within the mix. As a result, brake pads made with aramid pulp exhibit enhanced strength and durability.
2. Why Use Ceramic Fiber?
Ceramic fibers are known for their high strength, excellent resistance to thermal shock, and chemical stability, making them ideal for high-temperature applications. Originally used as insulation material in high-temperature kilns, ceramic fibers in brake pads contribute to stable friction coefficients, good wear resistance, and low noise levels during braking.
3. Why Use Carbon Fiber?
Carbon fiber offers a range of benefits in brake pads, including lightweight properties, resistance to fatigue, heat, and wear, as well as exceptional dimensional stability. These attributes make carbon fiber an excellent material for high-performance brake pads, where reducing weight and maintaining durability are crucial.
4. Why Use Metallic Fiber?
Metallic fibers not only carry the inherent benefits of metals, such as strength and durability, but they also possess unique characteristics like a larger surface area, enhanced magnetic properties, thermal resistance, and a high melting point. These features provide brake pads with superior heat dissipation, electrical conductivity, flexibility, and corrosion resistance.
5. Why Use Glass Fiber?
During the braking process, there is an immediate impact between the brake pad and the rotor or drum, leading to stress on the materials. For disc brake pads, this is less of a concern since the friction material is bonded directly to the backing plate. However, in heavy-duty truck drum brake pads, the friction material is riveted onto the shoe, making it susceptible to sudden braking impact. Glass fiber acts as a structural reinforcement, with its high aspect ratio and toughness providing extra resistance to cracking and breakage during intense braking.
6. Why Use Fillers?
Fillers in friction material formulations serve as supplemental ingredients that adjust the balance of the main components. While they may seem secondary, the quality of the fillers can greatly affect the overall performance of brake pads. Poor filler quality can lead to significant degradation in the product's strength, wear resistance, and braking consistency.
