The Application of Chopped Glass Fiber 6mm in Brake Pads Production
In the intricate domain of brake pads manufacturing, the utilization of Chopped Glass Fiber 6mm has become a topic of great interest within the industry. As a crucial component in the brake pads mixture, its distinct physical attributes and mechanical properties have a profound impact on various brake pads mixes, playing an indispensable role in the formation of high – performance brake pads friction materials.
1. Function and Mechanism
Derived from premium – grade glass materials, Chopped Glass Fiber 6mm is integrated into brake pads primarily for its remarkable reinforcing capabilities. When blended into the brake pads mixture, these relatively long fibers create a more extensive and robust internal framework within the friction material. Acting as a sturdy skeletal structure, they are more effective in distributing stress throughout the material. During the braking process, which generates substantial stress and shear forces, the 6mm fibers can better withstand these forces. For example, in a flexural – fatigue test, brake pads with 12% by weight of Chopped Glass Fiber 6mm endured 100,000 cycles without failure, while those with shorter 3mm fibers failed after 80,000 cycles under the same test conditions. This indicates that the longer fibers offer enhanced resistance to the cyclic loading during braking, reducing the likelihood of material fatigue and failure.
2. Advantages
2.1 Superior Mechanical Reinforcement
Chopped Glass Fiber 6mm provides outstanding mechanical reinforcement to brake pads. In a tensile – strength test, brake pads containing 10% of these 6mm fibers exhibited a tensile strength of 18 MPa, which is 80% higher than that of brake pads without any fiber reinforcement. This substantial increase in strength enables the brake pads to endure more severe braking conditions, such as high – speed stops and repeated heavy – duty braking, without undergoing deformation or breakage. The enhanced mechanical properties contribute to a more reliable and long – lasting braking performance.
2.2 Exceptional Heat Dissipation
The 6mm glass fibers have excellent heat – dissipation properties. Brake pads incorporating Chopped Glass Fiber 6mm can dissipate heat more effectively during the braking process. When the braking temperature reaches 500°C, the temperature rise on the surface of these brake pads is only 50°C, while non – fiber – containing brake pads experience a temperature rise of 80°C. This efficient heat dissipation helps to maintain the stability of the friction coefficient. The friction coefficient of brake pads with 6mm glass fibers remains around 0.45 at 500°C, while non – fiber – containing pads may see a decrease of up to 30% in the friction coefficient. This stability in friction performance is crucial for ensuring consistent braking power, especially in high – temperature braking scenarios.
2.3 Cost – Efficiency in the Long Run
Despite the initial cost of Chopped Glass Fiber 6mm being slightly higher than shorter – length fibers, its long – term cost – efficiency is evident. Due to the enhanced durability and performance of brake pads with 6mm fibers, the replacement frequency is reduced. For commercial vehicles that travel 100,000 km annually, brake pads with 6mm glass fibers need to be replaced once every two years, while those with shorter fibers or without fiber reinforcement may require replacement every year. This reduction in replacement frequency not only saves the cost of the brake pads themselves but also reduces labor costs associated with replacement, making it a cost – effective choice in the long – term operation of vehicles.
3. Disadvantages
3.1 Difficulty in Mixing
The longer length of Chopped Glass Fiber 6mm can pose challenges during the mixing process in the brake pads mixture. Achieving a uniform dispersion of these 6mm fibers within the matrix material is more difficult compared to shorter fibers. In a mixing – quality assessment, it was found that when using 6mm fibers, 15% of the samples had non – uniform fiber distribution, leading to inconsistent mechanical properties across the brake pads. In contrast, for 3mm fibers, only 5% of the samples showed such non – uniformity. This non – uniform distribution can result in areas of weakness in the brake pads, potentially affecting their overall performance.
3.2 Higher Abrasion to Brake Systems
Brake pads with Chopped Glass Fiber 6mm may cause higher abrasion to other components in the braking system, such as the brake disc. In a wear – test of the brake disc, when paired with brake pads containing 6mm glass fibers, the wear depth of the brake disc after 50,000 braking cycles was 0.3 mm, while with 3mm fiber – containing brake pads, the wear depth was 0.2 mm. This increased abrasion can lead to shorter service life of the brake disc and other components, increasing the overall maintenance cost of the braking system.
In summary, Chopped Glass Fiber 6mm offers significant advantages in terms of mechanical reinforcement, heat dissipation, and long – term cost – efficiency in brake pad production. However, the difficulties in mixing and the higher abrasion to the braking system are drawbacks that need to be addressed. Further research should focus on developing better mixing techniques and finding ways to mitigate the abrasion issue to fully realize the potential of Chopped Glass Fiber 6mm in the brake pad manufacturing industry.