Carbon Fibers Could Improve Durability of Brakes

In the crowded urban area I live, worn brakes are one of those items one always needs to factor into my vehicle’s maintenance budget. Even if you drive conservatively, stop-and-go traffic is inevitable and that accelerates wear on the brake pads and rotors. But scientists are trying to devise solutions.

One solution being attempted is mixing carbon fibers into polymer-based brakes. By doing so, a group of researchers at UBC Okanagan, Sharif University of Technology in Iran and the University of Toronto were able to design brakes that are self-lubricating.

These new and improved brakes can prevent wear-and-tear and have better frictional properties than brakes currently on the market, explains School of Engineering Assistant Professor Mohammad Arjmand.

“No researcher in Canada is currently working in this area,” says Arjmand, one of the lead researchers on the project, “and the work is very important for the automotive and railroad industries.”

Typically, brake pad materials are available in three categories: metallic, ceramic and organic. All have benefits and weaknesses inherent to their design such as cost, durability, noise, slow response time, or increased temperature during usage, Arjmand adds.

According to statistics from the US Department of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the failure of vehicle components accounts for nearly two per cent of crashes and about 22 per cent of vehicle component faults are caused by brake-related problems.

“This new research looks at things like composite breakdown during high temperatures, durability, friction and wear testing,” says Arjmand. “Our findings show that the newly designed carbon fiber polymer brakes represent an acceleration in the science of deceleration and could be a real boon for the industry and consumers alike.”

Arjmand says the new technology can lead to smaller brake pads that are more efficient and cost-effective, since the small pads can withstand greater friction and temperatures.

“As we continue to develop nanomaterials and mix them with polymers to develop multifunctional composite cocktails that can address issues such as friction, wear, and heat distribution at the molecular level, we will continue to help the industry evolve.”