Thermo-Mechanical Analysis of Bio-Based Hybrid Nanocomposites for Brake Pad Application

Abstract

In this study, a friction material filled with carbon nanospheres (CNSs) was developed and tested. The CNSs were produced by simple physical activation under a nitrogen atmosphere. Bio-based hybrid nanocomposite (BHN) brake pads were produced and their thermo-mechanical properties were assessed. In this work, friction nanocomposite materials that were varied with carbon nanospheres were developed with different parameters. Thermo-mechanical properties of the BHN brake pads developed were assessed, such as compressive strength, impact strength, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA). The BHN brake pad samples were compared with control (CONTR). Subsequently, a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study was performed on the brake pads fracture surfaces. From the SEM images, micro-cracks were noticed on BHN 4 and BHN 5 fractured surfaces while surface degradation was observed on BHN 1 and an interlocking structure observed on BNH 3 and BHN 6. The results showed a uniform distribution of carbon nanospheres that supported impact stress resistance results. This structural formation improved the inner hardness of BHN brake pads, thus improving the breaking fracture resistance. TGA showed the loading of CNS improved thermal stability of friction nanocomposites. The CONTR and BHN brake pads had similar thermal stability and degradation temperatures. The results showed that the BHN exhibited excellent mechanical properties compared to CONTR. KEYWORDS: CNS, Mechanical Analysis, Friction Materials, TGA, DMA