Influence of ground granulated blast furnace slag on the tribological characteristics of automotive brake friction materials
Industrial Lubrication and Tribology
ISSN: 0036-8792
Article publication date: 30 June 2022
Issue publication date: 8 August 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The main purpose of this study in the field of automotive brake friction material is to find an effective material to replace the environmentally hazardous copper in the brake pad formulation.
Design/methodology/approach
Cu is used as functional filler in various forms in the friction material formulation. Because of its hazardous impact to the aquatic life, a suitable replacement of Cu is the main focus of this research. Three novel friction composite materials using ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) as a suitable alternative for Cu were developed by increasing its Wt.% from 5% to 15% in the step of 5%.
Findings
The physical, mechanical and chemical properties of the developed friction composites were tested as per the industrial standards. The tribological properties were analyzed as per SAE J661 standard using the chase test rig. Initial studies revealed that the friction composite having 5% GGBFS exhibited better physical, mechanical and chemical properties with excellent frictional performance having minimal fluctuations even at higher temperatures. Nonetheless, the results showed that the friction composite containing 15 Wt.% GGBFS revealed a better wear resistance property compared with the other two composites due to the tribo lubricating layer formation at the frictional interface. Scanning electron microscope analysis was performed to understand the wear mechanism and tribo layer formations through topography studies.
Originality/value
This paper explains the influence of GGBFS as a replacement of barytes in brake pads formulation to enhance the tribological performance.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to the Management and Department of Mechanical Engineering, PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, India, for extending the facilities to carry out this investigation. The authors are also thankful to the Faculty of informatics, Savaria institute of Technology. ELTE, Szombathely, Hungary for their support. The current research was supported by the Early Career Research Award (Grant numbers: ECR/2018/002378) awarded by the Department of Science and Technology, Science and Engineering Research Board, India.
Citation
M., K., S., B., Raj, S., N., J., Fekete, G. and T.V., C. (2022), "Influence of ground granulated blast furnace slag on the tribological characteristics of automotive brake friction materials", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 74 No. 7, pp. 837-843. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILT-03-2022-0068
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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