| Several non-asbestos friction materials related issues, such as the effect of compression molding pressure, binder resin-fiber interaction, thermal stabilities of the binder resin, and friction particles have been studied. Measurements of flexural strength, flexural modulus, friction, wear and fade properties were made. When the molding pressure was controlled properly, maximum flexural properties and minimum wear rate can be obtained. The coefficients of friction and the fade properties were independent of the molding pressure used. The modulus of the Lapinus fiber-phenolic resin friction materials varied with the addition of different amounts of fiber. The volumetric wear rate and coefficients of friction strongly depended on the amount of fiber used in the friction material. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) technique revealed that this dependence was related to the changes in the wear mechanisms.;The thermal stabilities of organic components play an essential role in the performance of organic friction materials. Friction particles greatly affect the modulus, friction, fade and wear rate of the friction materials. By using proper amounts of friction particles, it is possible to improve the friction and wear properties without adversely affecting the fade properties. The thermal stabilities of the cashewnut shell liquid (CNSL) based phenolic resin can be improved effectively by adding small amounts of additives. The variation in the fade properties can be correlated to the changes in the thermal properties of the binder resin. |
