In the realm of brake shoes manufacturing, wollastonite has emerged as a material of great significance in brake shoes mixtures and mixes, especially within the context of brake shoes friction materials. This article delves into the application of wollastonite in brake shoes production, spotlighting its advantages and disadvantages, and presenting technical parameters with the support of data.

Wollastonite plays a pivotal role in enhancing the friction characteristics of brake shoes. When added to the brake shoes friction materials, it contributes to a more stable and consistent friction coefficient. For example, in a series of friction – coefficient – testing experiments, brake shoes with 15% wollastonite in the mixture maintained a friction coefficient between 0.36 and 0.44 across a wide range of braking speeds, from 25 km/h to 110 km/h. This stable friction coefficient ensures reliable braking performance, whether in normal driving or emergency braking situations.

Wollastonite is renowned for its excellent high – temperature resistance. Brake shoes incorporating wollastonite can withstand temperatures of up to 1200°C without significant deterioration. In high – temperature braking tests, when the brake shoes friction materials with 20% wollastonite were subjected to continuous braking, causing the temperature to reach 1000°C, the structure of the friction materials remained intact, and the braking performance remained stable. The friction coefficient decreased by only 8% compared to normal – temperature braking, highlighting its remarkable high – temperature resilience.

The addition of wollastonite to brake shoes friction materials significantly improves their wear – resistance. In long – term wear – testing scenarios, brake shoes with wollastonite – based friction materials exhibited a wear rate of 0.08 – 0.12 mm per 10,000 braking cycles. In contrast, those without wollastonite had a wear rate of 0.22 – 0.26 mm per 10,000 cycles. This substantial reduction in wear rate not only extends the service life of the brake shoes but also reduces maintenance costs, making it a cost – effective choice for manufacturers and consumers alike.

Wollastonite is relatively inexpensive, making it an attractive option for brake shoe manufacturers. By incorporating wollastonite into brake shoes mixtures, manufacturers can achieve a cost reduction of approximately 15 – 20% in material costs. This cost – effectiveness allows for the production of high – quality brake shoes at a more competitive price, enhancing the marketability of the products.

One of the primary limitations of wollastonite is its relatively low mechanical strength. Under high – stress braking conditions, brake shoes with a high proportion of wollastonite in the friction materials are more prone to mechanical failure. In mechanical – stress – testing experiments, brake shoes with 30% wollastonite in the mixture were 40% more likely to develop cracks compared to those with a lower proportion. This low mechanical strength restricts the application of wollastonite – based brake shoes in high – performance and heavy – duty braking systems.

Wollastonite can be chemically reactive in certain environments, especially in the presence of specific chemicals in the brake fluid. In laboratory – simulated chemical – exposure tests, when brake shoes with wollastonite – based friction materials were exposed to a brake – fluid environment containing acidic substances, the braking performance gradually deteriorated. After 3 months of exposure, the friction coefficient decreased by 15%, and the wear rate increased by 25% due to the chemical reaction of wollastonite. This chemical reactivity requires careful consideration in the design and application of brake shoes.

In summary, wollastonite offers several advantages in brake shoes production, including optimized friction performance, high – temperature tolerance, enhanced wear – resistance, and cost – efficiency. However, its low mechanical strength and chemical reactivity pose challenges that need to be addressed through proper material selection, formulation, and engineering techniques.