Development and Characterization of Fe-Based Friction Material Made by Hot Powder Preform Forging for Low Duty Applications

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Journal of Minerals & Materials Characterization & Engineering, Vol. 10, No.13, pp.1205-1212, 2011

1205

Development and C haracte r iz at ion of Fe-Based Friction Material Made

by Hot Powd er Prefor m Forging for Low D uty Ap plications

A.A.S. Ghazi*, K. Chandra, P.S. Misra

Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology

Roorkee, India.

*Corresponding Author: [email protected]

ABSTRACT:

This present paper investigates the friction and wear properties of friction material

developed by ‘Hot Powder Preform Forging’ technique. The conventional technique to

manufacture Metallo-ceramic brake pads was successfully and economically tried to replace

the above process. Compacting and sintering technology suffers from certain major

limitations such as inadequate joining of friction element with backing plate, poor density

levels achieved in friction element owing to limited application of pressure during

compacting, poor thermal conductivity due to high levels of porosity in the product, poor

strength due to segregation of the impurities along prior particle boundaries (PPB’s) and,

wide variations in final characteristics due to large number of variables involved. In contrast

to these limitations, the present technique can offer brake pads of much simpler chemistry but

with improved performance on account of simultaneous application of pressure and

temperature and with better control of variables. Fade and recovery studies were carried out

on a Krauss machine tester following the Economic Commission for Europe Regulation for

replacement brake linings (ECE R-90). μfade, μrecovery, μperformance, % age fade , % age

recovery & temperature rise lie within the range for friction materials used for low duty

applications. The mechanical properties of these materials were characterized using ASTM

standards.

Keywords: Friction material; Preform forging; B rake pads; Fade.

1. INTRODUCTIO N

Brakes are one of the most important safety and performance components in automobiles.

Most of the brake linings used in American cars are based on a metal fiber reinforced

phenolic resin matrix and are called semi metallic. There are, however, also other types of

lining materials, categorized into metallic, organic and carbon based. Most of the brake

linings are typically a composite of a number of different materials. Sometimes, up to 20 or

25 different constituents are used. These ingredients are categorized into four broad classes:

binders, structural materials, fillers and frictional additives/modifiers. The binders bind

together rest of the ingredients, structural materials provide the structural reinforcement to the

1206 A.A.S. Ghazi, K. Chandra, P.S. Misra Vol.10, No.13

composite matrix, fillers make up the volume of the brake lining, while keeping the costs

down, and friction modifiers stabilize the coefficient of friction [1].

A limited number of studies investigating the compositional effect are available in the

literature and a complete analysis concerning all the ingredients in a friction material is

seldom found. The limited information about ingredients used in the friction material and

their effects on the friction characteristics is partly ascribed to proprietary reasons [2-6]. The

development of new pad materials is a complicated matter as the components interact and

synergetic effects that are hard to disentangle arise [7].

Compacting and sintering technology [8] is one such technology through which Metallo-

ceramic brake pads are currently being made. However, it suffers from certain major

limitations such as inadequate joining of friction element with backing plate, poor density

levels achieved in friction element owing to limited application of pressure during

compacting, poor thermal conductivity due to high levels of porosity in the product, poor

strength due to segregation of the impurities along prior particle boundaries (PPB’s),

anisotropy in the strength of the product owing to preferred direction due of pressing, and,

wide variations in final characteristics due to large number of variables involved. Besides

above, cost of raw material and consumables along with heavy capital equipment makes this

technique costly and only large scale production is possible where these costs are distributed

in the large volume of production. In contrast to these limitations, the present technique can

offer brake pads of much simpler chemistry but with improved performance on account of

simultaneous application of pressure and temperature and with better control of variables.

The technique does not involve any custom built equipment and is also likely to become

economical even with small volume production [9].

2. EXPERIMENTAL

Friction materials investigated in this stud y are iron-based met al m at rix com po si tes whi ch ar e

produced by ‘Hot Powder Preform Forging’ technique. The compositions are given in Table

1. Samples of the dimension (25 mm × 50 mm ×10 mm) for testing on Krauss Machine

Tester ar e pr ep ared as follows whi ch i s used to check th e su it abi li ty of fri ct i on mat eri als to be

used for low and moderate duty applications. The particle size of the raw materials chosen in

the present investigation is given in Table 2. Powder mixtures for friction layer as per the

chemistry are prepared. Firstly, SiC powder is mechanically alloyed with sulphide / sulphate

powders, graphite powder (fine - 1/3rd of the total % age), etc. This will ensure coating of soft

powders on hard SiC powder. The attritor speed ranges from 150 rpm to 200 rpm, ball to

charge ratio is 5:1 and th e duration is 2 hrs (Powder Mix -1). Then, entire amount of iron and

other powders such as Cu, Zn, etc as per the chosen chemistry is mechanically alloyed with

graphite powder (flake – 2/3rd of the total % age) in the attritor with the same operating

parameters (Powder Mix-2). Lastly, the two powder mixtures (Powder Mix-1 and Powder

Mix-2) are then mechanically mixed with each other in a ball mill (180 rpm) for 2 hrs.

Powder compaction is done in a suitably designed die in accordance with the given shape of

the Krauss Machine Tester sample by pressing in a Screw forging press with the help of

upper and lower punches at a pressure of 750 MPa. The compacts are then ejected out of the

die. The die is suitably lubricated employing graphite in the suspension of methyl

alcohol/ethyl alcohol/acetone for easy ejection without cracking of green compact. Green

compacts are th en coated with high tem perature resis tant cer amic glassy coating [10] and are

dried completely. The purpose of this coating is to protect samples from oxidation at high

Vol.10, No.13 Development and Characterization 1207

temperature. The green compacts so produced are heated in a furnace. The operating

temperature of the furnace ranges from 1050OC 1100OC for iron based brake pad and the

holding time is 1/2 hours.

Table 1: Chemistry of friction materials, density and hardness

Table 2: Particle size of powders employed

The hot powder preforms are then taken out from the furnace and quickl y transferred into the

hot lubricated die fitted in the forging press (capacity of press depending upon area of the

actual brake pad) and having speed 50-500 mm/s. The preform is fully consolidates to its

near theoretical density on forging. The for ged component is thereafter ejected out of the die.

Forged samples are again coated with glassy coating, and then they are annealed at a

temperature of 710oC for 2 hours durations. The process flow sheet is given in Fig. 1.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

3.1 Determination of Density:

The basic method of determining the density of Krauss Machine Tester sample is by

measuring the ratio of mass and volume of the specimen was used. Density depends upon

extent of forging and normalizing/annealing treatments thereafter. It also indirectly depends

upon chemistry of friction materials. In this paper, the densities of Krauss Machine Tester

sampl es are estimat ed by Archi medes prin ciple as shown in Tabl e 1. The d ensity of S intered

Fe-based samples are higher than resin bonded friction material which results in better

properties of sintered material.

1208 A.A.S. Ghazi, K. Chandra, P.S. Misra Vol.10, No.13

Fig. 1: Process Flow Sheet

3.2 Brinell Hardness Test:

The Brinell hardness test method consists of indenting the test material with a 10 mm

diameter hardened steel ball subjected to a load of 31.25 kg applied for 10–15 s. The diameter

of the indentation left in the test material is measured with a low powered microscope. The

diameter of the impression is the average of two readings at right angles and the use of a

Brinell hardness number table can simplify the determination of the Brinell hardness. The

hardness values obtained for the organic-based material and Fe-based materials were of 180

HB and 95-120 HB, respectively. The sintered materials hardness was too small, most likely

due to its high porosity as well as the small hardness of the base metal. This result might have

affected the sintered pad in a way that it suffered similar wear to the resin-based pad, no

matter what was the metallic base of the material. Despite the very different hardness

presented by each mate rial, the si ntered Fe- based friction material proved to have a superior

resistance to compression when compared to the resin-based material. Brinell hardness

number of test pins is shown in Table 1.

3.3 Fade and Recovery Evaluation:

The fade and recovery tests were conducted on the six compositions using a Krauss type

RWDC 100C (450 V/50 Hz) machine shown schematically in Fig. 2. The input parameters

are given i n T abl e 3. W e ar vol um e of t he co mp osites was cal cul ated us ing weight ch an ge and

the density of the materials. On the basis of the results showed in Table 4, it can be inferred

that sintered Fe- based friction materials have better properties than resin bonded friction

materials. From Fig. 3(d), it was observed that FM-03 composite have exhibited lowest

Performance µ and FM-04 shows the highest one. The performance µ order was Resin

bonded friction material (RBFM) > FM-04 > FM-01 > FM-02 > FM-03, while µ after

recovery [Fig. 3 (e)] of the composites was in order FM-04 > RBFM > FM-02 > FM-01 >

Vol.10, No.13 Development and Characterization 1209

FM-03. The fade µ [Fig. 3(c)] order is RBFM > FM-01 > FM-04 > FM-02 > FM-03 and it

shows that fade µ is lowest for FM-03. The % age fade [Fig. 3 (a)] is lowest for FM-01 and

follows the order FM-04 > FM-02 > RBFM > FM-03 > FM-01. The % age recovery [Fig.

3(b)] is maximum for FM-02 and follows the order FM-02 > FM-04 > FM-01 > FM-03 >

RBFM. The temperature order is as follows RBFM > FM-04 > FM-02 > FM-01 > FM-03

[Fig. 3(f)]. The fad e and recovery chara cterist ics of all the fou r com posi tes st udied have be en

observed to be well within the IS 2742 prescribed permissible ranges of 0–30 and 90–140 %,

respectively. Therefore, sintered Fe- based friction materials are superior to resin bonded

friction materials.

Fig. 2 : Schematic of Krauss Machine: (1) compressed air supply, (2) bearings movable, (3) bearings,

(4) option SH 2.5 kg m m, (5) emergency stop option, (6) bearings,(7) options SH 5 kg m 2, (8) air

inlet, (9) d. c. motor, (10) clutch at option SH, (11) belt drive and (12) generator.

Table 3: Input param eters for Krau ss Test Table 4: Results for Fe-based and Resin

Bonded Frict ion Mater ia ls (Kraus s Machin e Tes t)

Fig. 3(a): % age Fade Vs Friction Materials Fig. 3(b): % age Recovery Vs Friction Materials

1210 A.A.S. Ghazi, K. Chandra, P.S. Misra Vol.10, No.13

Fig. 3(c): µfa de Vs Friction Materials Fig. 3(d): µperformance Vs Friction Materials

Fig. 3(e): µrecovery Vs Friction Materials Fig. 3(f): Temperature Rise Vs Friction

Material s

3.4 SEM/EDAX:

In order to get the detail ed information about different constituents, EDAX anal ysis was als o

performed including their micro-analysis. Fig. 4 (a), (b) & (c) shows the SEM/EDAX of the

friction material FM-01, FM-02 and FM-03 resp..

Fig. 4(a): SEM/EDX of FM-01

Vol.10, No.13 Development and Characterization 1211

Fig. 4(b): SEM/EDX of FM-02

Fig. 4(c): SEM/EDX of FM-03

4. CONCLUSIO NS

Based on the results obtained, the sintered Fe- based friction materials proved to be more

efficient than the resin-based friction materials because it presents a relatively lower wear

rate as well as a higher friction coefficient. The wear rate in the sintered material was lower

due to the good ductility of its metallic matrix. Due to the presence of SiC, it was possible to

obtain an increase of the friction coefficient in the sintered material. To improve the thermal

conductivity of the material, it is important to decrease the matrix porosity, so that it is

possible to improve the brake pad efficiency. As previously mentioned, studies about friction

materials are based on trial and error testing procedures. It is through changes in the base

materials, in the manufacturing processes and even in the work conditions that really different

result s can be noti ced. The p resent st udy suggest s that ea ch friction material n eeds a speci fic

focus of study. Iron based brake pads can be used for low duty applications. The technology

completely eliminates the problems of joining between backing plate and friction element on

account of simultaneous application of pressure and temperature. Th e p oro s i t y of the m aterial

may cause higher temperature increase when the system operates because the pores work as

insulators in the material, and they make the heat transference difficult. In one instance, this

increasing in porosity presented some benefits related to the application of the friction

material, since it increases the material roughness, promoting an increase in the friction with

the brake disc. Another benefit brought about by porosity was to keep the abrasive particles

in the material, avoiding their loss during braking action.

1212 A.A.S. Ghazi, K. Chandra, P.S. Misra Vol.10, No.13

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