Abstract:

In present research, it was aimed to utilize high-purity, low-cost, and most importantly non-toxic powders for human health instead of their toxic-based material counterparts which are now preferred in brake pads production. For this purpose, ceramicbased two-component bearing new composite materials added to content in production were developed for common raw materials that consisted of generally four or five constituents used in the production of brake pad. In addition, it was also expected to extend the life span of brake pad by this composite material content. In the brake pad production, yttrium-stabilized tetragonal zirconia (Y-TZP) powders were preferred to matrix phase among the starting materials that forming the main composition of composite. Y-TZP was also considered as key component due to its high refractory and toughness properties. The bulk prototype samples were produced by cold isostatic pressing (CIP) and following the sintering at 1500-1600oC from starting formulations that composed of alumina (Al2O3) and manganese oxide (MnO) reinforcement into the Y-TZP matrix phase at certain proportions. Phase and microstructural changes in the samples as well as their physical and mechanical properties were respectively determined by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, Archimedes’ density measurement, Vickers hardness and toughness analyses and tribology wear tests. When the results are evaluated together, it is seen that a ceramic composite sample which will be added to the content in the production of brake lining systems can be prepared from ceramic based materials and can have high mechanical property and low wear. Thus, this study clearly proposes a new different approach to current production technologies of brake pads.

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