Braking Green: The rise of natural products in friction materials

The automotive industry is accelerating towards a greener future, and brake pads are joining the ride. While traditional friction materials have relied heavily on synthetic components, there's a growing trend towards incorporating natural products into their formulations. This shift not only reduces environmental impact but also unlocks unique performance benefits.

Natural Powders: unlocking hidden potential

Beyond fibers, natural powders derived from various sources are also finding applications in friction materials. These powders, often obtained from agricultural byproducts or recycled materials, offer unique properties and contribute to sustainability.

Milled fruit stones: Powders derived from fruit stones, such as olive pits or walnut shells, can act as fillers or friction modifiers in brake pads. They can enhance wear resistance, improve friction stability, and even contribute to noise reduction.
Other natural powders: Researchers are exploring a wide range of natural powders, including those derived from wood, bamboo, and other plant-based sources, to unlock their potential in friction material applications.

Benefits of natural products:

Sustainability: Natural products are renewable and often biodegradable, reducing reliance on petroleum-based materials and minimizing environmental impact.
Performance enhancement: Natural fibers and powders can contribute to improved friction stability, wear resistance, and NVH control in brake pads.
Cost-effectiveness: Utilizing agricultural byproducts or recycled materials can lead to cost savings in brake pad production.

Challenges and opportunities

While the use of natural products in friction materials is promising, there are challenges to address:

Consistency and quality: Ensuring the consistent quality and properties of natural materials can be challenging, requiring careful sourcing and processing.
Performance optimization: Balancing the properties of natural and synthetic components in brake pad formulations requires careful research and development.

Despite these challenges, the potential benefits of natural products in friction materials are significant. As research and innovation continue, we can expect to see even more exciting applications of these sustainable materials in the future.

RIMSA's commitment to Green Braking:

At RIMSA, we are committed to developing environmentally friendly friction solutions. We actively explore the use of natural fibers and powders in our brake pad formulations, contributing to a greener automotive industry and a more sustainable future.

This case study investigates the effects of incorporating r0-Bone, an innovative natural powder introduced by Rimsa, into brake friction materials as an alternative to friction dust (CNSL particles), a natural polymerized resin, which is largely used in brake friction materials.

The graph 1 compares the coefficient of friction (COF) for two low-met formula brake pads, one containing 5% r0-Bone and the other containing 5% Friction Dust. This comparison allows us to evaluate the performance of r0-Bone relative to the current CNSL material

Graph 1. Comparison of Coefficient of Friction (COF) between 5% r0-Bone and 5% Friction Dust.

Graph 2. Thickness Loss Comparison Between 5% r0-Bone and 5% Friction Dust, showing reduced wear with r0-bone.

Both brake pads exhibit comparable friction coefficients and follow a similar trend, suggesting that r0-Bone’s friction performance is equivalent to that of Friction Dust. This indicates that r0-Bone is a promising alternative for brake pad formulations and can even replace the friction dust.

The results shown on graph 2 provide another valuable evidence that r0-bone natural powder in brake pads results in less wear compared to Friction Dust in the same test conditions. This supports the potential of r0-bone as an alternative in brake pad formulations.

Beyond the demonstrated improvements in wear resistance and comparable friction performance, the shift toward natural powders like r0-Bone presents an opportunity to move away from traditional components that may have undesirable environmental or health implications. For instance, CNSL resins, often used in friction materials, can involve the use of formaldehyde in their production. Formaldehyde is a concerning chemical due to its potential health hazards and environmental impact. While this case study did not specifically measure formaldehyde emissions or residual formaldehyde levels, the replacement of CNSL resin particles with r0-Bone offers the potential for formulations with a reduced reliance on formaldehyde-based resins, contributing to a safer and healthier manufacturing process and final product.

Braking Green: The rise of natural products in friction materials

Natural Powders: unlocking hidden potential

Benefits of natural products:

Challenges and opportunities

RIMSA's commitment to Green Braking:

Related products

r0-Bone – Sustainable Alternative for Brake Pads

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