Role of potential components used in organic composite materials for braking application: impact on friction and wear mechanisms

Friction materials must exhibit a good combination of several physicochemical, mechanical, thermal and tribological properties. These properties interact to respond correctly to a braking request. Understanding the role of the components and their contribution to friction and wear mechanisms is a necessity in an approach to optimize braking performance. In this paper, the contribution of some potential components to the braking behavior of friction materials is highlighted. Special attention was given to the impact of rubber and brass particles, as well as miscanthus fibers in the establishment of primary and secondary plateaus, in addition to their contribution to maintaining the friction layers necessary for stable braking. It was reported that at high braking energy, the brass particles played the role of primary plateaus. On the other hand, the miscanthus fibers promote the formation of secondary plateaus, while the majority of the rubber particles remain totally or partially uncovered. Based on these results, the possibility of green alternatives as promising components was highlighted.