The principle of carbon fiber brake pads is mainly based on the generation of friction. When braking, friction occurs between the brake pads and the brake disc, and the kinetic energy of rotation is converted into heat energy, thereby decelerating the vehicle. Its performance advantages are:
(1) Low density. The density of carbon fiber brake pads is about 1.8g/cm3, which is only 1/3 to 1/4 of that of metal matrix composites. Brake pads made from carbon fiber mean they are lighter. For high-end cars and trains, this can not only increase the payload of the car, but also reduce weight and save fuel. Therefore, its cost-saving effect is very significant.
(2) Outstanding environmental resistance. Even in humid and acidic environments, carbon fiber brake pads are not prone to corrosion and rust problems, nor will their mechanical properties decay. Therefore, the corrosion resistance of carbon fiber brake pads is better than that of semi-metallic materials.
(3) Braking noise is low. Current brake pads produce a harsh noise when braking, especially when braking at high speeds. The loss factor of carbon fiber’s sonic vibration attenuation is 0.024±0.008, which makes it in a buffering state during braking without any noise.
(4) Good braking performance. Brake pads made of carbon fiber have a smooth braking curve and can also withstand more thermal shock from braking friction.
(5) Low wear rate. The test results show that under dry grinding conditions, if the relative wear of steel/carbon fiber composites is 1, the wear of carbon fiber composites/steel is 10, while the wear of steel/steel composites is 5000. Therefore, the wear resistance of carbon fiber brake pads and the wear of friction couple materials are lower than that of steel fiber brake pads, which not only extends the life of the brake pads, but also reduces the number of repairs of the brake pad components.
