• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.207-214
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• 2020

In this study, we investigated the effects of copper and copper-alloy on the frictional and wear properties of low-steel friction material. The proportions of copper and copper-alloy in the brake friction materials used in passenger cars are very high (approximately 5-20% weight), and these materials have significant effects on friction and wear characteristics. In this study, the effects of cupric ingredients, such as the copper fiber and brass fiber, are investigated using the friction materials based on commercial formulations. After the copper and brass fibers from the same formulation were removed, the frictional and wear characteristics were evaluated to determine the influence of the copper and copper-alloy. We evaluated the frictional and wear characteristics by simulating various braking conditions using a 1/5 scale dynamometer. The results show that the friction material containing copper and brass fibers have excellent frictional stability and a low wear rate compared to the friction material that does not contain copper and brass fibers. These results are attributed to the excellent ductility, moderate melting point, high strength, and excellent thermal conductivity of copper and copper-alloy. We analyzed the surfaces of the friction materials before and after the performing the friction tests using a scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscope, confocal microscope, and roughness tester to verify the frictional behavior of copper and copper-alloy. In future studies, it will be applied to the development of copper-free friction materials based on the results of this study.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.88-95
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• 2020

In this study, we investigate the mechanical properties of high manganese steel, and the friction and wear characteristics of brake friction material containing this steel, for passenger car application, with the aim of replacing copper and copper alloys whose usage is expected to be restricted in the future. These steels are prepared using a vacuum induction melting furnace to produce binary and ternary alloys. The hardness and tensile strength of the high manganese steel decrease and the elongation increases with increase in manganese content. This material exhibits high values of hardness, tensile strength, and elongation; these properties are similar to those of 7-3 brass used in conventional friction materials. We fabricate high manganese steel fibers to prepare test pad specimens, and evaluate the friction and wear characteristics by simulating various braking conditions using a 1/5 scale dynamometer. The brake pad material is found to have excellent friction stability in comparison with conventional friction materials that use 7-3 brass fibers; particularly, the friction stability at high temperature is significantly improved. Additionally, we evaluate the wear using a wear test method that simulates the braking conditions in Europe. It is found that the amount of wear of the brake pad is the same as that in the case of the conventional friction material, and that the amount of wear of the cast iron disc is reduced by approximately 10. The high manganese steel is expected to be useful in the development of eco-friendly, copper-free friction material.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.329-337
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• 2019

We synthesized potassium titanates having splinter and plate shape and evaluated frictional and wear properties of brake pad using them as reinforcements in friction materials. For splinter-shaped potassium titanates, potassium tetratitanate (K₂O·4TiO₂, PT4) with plate shape was prepared, then K ion of the titanate was leached by acid to make potassium hexatitanate (K₂O·6TiO₂, PT6), which was transformed to splinter-shaped PT6 by thermal treatment at 800℃. Plate-shaped potassium magnesium titanate (K_0.8Mg_0.4Ti_1.6O₄, PMT) was prepared by adding Mg in the potassium titanate using KCl as a flux. Using PT6 and PMT as reinforcements in friction materials of brake pad, we evaluated frictional and wear properties using 1/5-scale dynamometer. According to dynamometer test results, both reinforcements shows similar friction coefficient and fade & recovery behavior to conventional material and plate-shaped PMT exhibits higher wear resistance than splinter-shaped PT6.