Frictional Characteristics of Friction Brake Material Using Cantala Fibers as Reinforcement

Abstract

Friction brake materials are made from a mixture of materials with different properties in order to meet the brake performance requirement. Friction brake material contains a reinforcement fiber that serves to maintain the integrity of the material when subjected to loading. Natural fiber has the potential to be used as a reinforcement material for friction material due to some of its superior characteristics. In this research, friction brake materials using cantala fibers were developed to investigate their frictional characteristics. The volume fraction of the cantala fibers in the specimens was varied from 0%, 4%, 8%, to 12% of the total composition of the friction brake material. The manufacturing of the specimen was initiated by mixing the ingredients, followed by cold pressing of the mixture, hot pressing of the preform, and finally post-curing of the specimens. The frictional characteristics of the specimens were evaluated using pin-on-disc tribometer. The result showed that the cantala fibers contributed to the decrease in the coefficient of friction. An increase in contact pressure caused the coefficient of friction to increase, while the increase in sliding speed caused a decrease in the coefficient of friction. The addition of cantala fiber into the composite could increase wear resistance and stabilize the coefficient of friction of the friction brake material.

Keywords

• friction brake material
• cantala fibers, natural fiber
• wear resistance
• coefficient of friction