In the realm of brake shoes manufacturing, the utilization of Rock Wool has become a topic of significant interest. Rock Wool is increasingly incorporated into brake shoes mixtures and mixes, especially in the composition of brake shoes friction materials. This article delves into the application of Rock Wool in brake shoes production, with a focus on its advantages and disadvantages, and presents technical parameters through data.

Rock Wool exhibits outstanding high – temperature resistance. It can endure temperatures of up to 1100°C. In the context of brake shoes, during intense braking scenarios, the temperature can escalate rapidly. Brake shoes with Rock Wool in their friction materials demonstrate remarkable stability. For example, in a series of high – speed braking tests, when the temperature of the brake shoes reached 700°C, the Rock Wool – integrated brake shoes maintained their physical and chemical properties. The friction coefficient of these brake shoes remained relatively constant at around 0.45, ensuring reliable braking performance.

One of the notable benefits of Rock Wool in brake shoes is its excellent sound – damping capabilities. Braking often generates noise due to the friction between brake components. Rock Wool in the brake shoes friction materials can effectively mitigate this noise. Laboratory measurements indicate that brake shoes with Rock Wool can reduce braking noise by approximately 12 – 18 decibels compared to those without it. This results in a quieter and more pleasant driving experience.

From a cost – perspective, Rock Wool is a cost – effective option. Incorporating Rock Wool into brake shoes mixtures can reduce the overall production cost by about 20 – 25%. This cost reduction is particularly appealing to manufacturers, especially when large – scale production is involved, as it allows for more competitive pricing in the market.

The brittleness of Rock Wool is a significant drawback. During the manufacturing process of brake shoes, the brittleness can cause problems in the shaping of the brake shoes mixture. For example, in the pressing process, the Rock Wool – containing mixture is 30 – 40% more likely to develop cracks compared to mixtures without Rock Wool. In actual use, the brittle nature of Rock Wool may lead to the detachment of small particles from the brake shoes friction materials. In a long – term wear test, brake shoes with Rock Wool – based friction materials showed a 25 – 35% higher rate of particle shedding.

Rock Wool has relatively low abrasion resistance. In a wear – resistance test, brake shoes with Rock Wool – based friction materials wore down at a rate of 0.25 – 0.35 mm per 10,000 braking cycles. In contrast, brake shoes made with more abrasion – resistant materials had a wear rate of only 0.1 – 0.2 mm per 10,000 cycles. This higher wear rate means that brake shoes with Rock Wool may need to be replaced more frequently, increasing maintenance costs.

In summary, while Rock Wool offers distinct advantages such as high – temperature resistance, sound – damping, and cost – efficiency in brake shoes production, its brittleness and limited abrasion resistance present challenges that must be carefully considered and addressed through advanced material engineering and manufacturing techniques.