In the domain of brake shoes manufacturing, Six Potassium Titanate Whisker has gradually found its place in brake shoes mixtures and mixes, playing a crucial role in the composition of brake shoes friction materials. This unique material endows brake shoes with distinct properties, bringing both remarkable benefits and some potential limitations.

Six Potassium Titanate Whisker has an extremely high aspect ratio, which imparts excellent reinforcement to the brake shoes friction materials. When added to the brake shoes mixture, it can significantly enhance the mechanical strength of the friction materials. For example, in a test, the bending strength of brake shoes friction materials with 15% Six Potassium Titanate Whisker increased by 30% compared to those without it. This improved strength ensures that the brake shoes can better withstand the mechanical stress during braking, reducing the risk of breakage and enhancing the overall safety of the braking system.

It contributes to maintaining a stable friction coefficient. In a series of braking tests, brake shoes with 12% Six Potassium Titanate Whisker in their friction materials showed a friction coefficient fluctuation of only ±0.05 within a wide range of braking speeds and temperatures from 20 – 300°C. In contrast, the friction coefficient of brake shoes without this whisker fluctuated by ±0.15 under the same conditions. This stable friction performance is vital for ensuring consistent braking force and reliable braking performance.

The presence of Six Potassium Titanate Whisker in brake shoes friction materials can effectively reduce the wear rate. In a long – term wear test, the wear rate of brake shoes with 10% Six Potassium Titanate Whisker was only 0.1 – 0.15 mm per 10,000 braking cycles, while that of brake shoes without it was 0.2 – 0.3 mm per 10,000 cycles. This low wear rate not only extends the service life of the brake shoes but also reduces the frequency of brake shoe replacements, thus saving maintenance costs.

The production process of Six Potassium Titanate Whisker is complex and energy – intensive, resulting in a relatively high cost. Adding 10 – 15% of it to the brake shoes mixture can increase the material cost by about 20 – 25%. This cost increase may pose challenges for manufacturers, especially those aiming for cost – effective mass production.

Due to its needle – like structure, Six Potassium Titanate Whisker is difficult to disperse evenly in the brake shoes mixture. In the mixing process, it often requires additional time and special techniques to achieve a homogeneous dispersion. If not dispersed properly, it may lead to local stress concentration in the brake shoes friction materials, affecting the overall performance and quality of the brake shoes. In fact, the time needed for uniform dispersion of Six Potassium Titanate Whisker is about 40 – 50% longer than that of common additives.

In conclusion, Six Potassium Titanate Whisker offers significant advantages in terms of strengthening the brake shoes, stabilizing the friction coefficient, and reducing wear. However, the high production cost and difficult dispersion issues need to be carefully addressed through technological innovation and process optimization to fully utilize its potential in brake shoes production.