The Application of Wood Pulp Fiber in Brake Shoes Production
Wood Pulp Fiber, a common and renewable material, has been increasingly utilized in the production of brake shoes. As integral components in vehicle braking systems, brake shoes rely on high – quality brake shoes friction materials to ensure efficient and safe braking. When Wood Pulp Fiber is incorporated into these materials, it significantly impacts the performance of brake shoes mixtures or brake shoes mixes.
Function in brake shoes mixture
Wood Pulp Fiber plays several important roles in the brake shoes mixture. Firstly, it acts as a reinforcement agent. In a typical brake shoes friction material formula, when Wood Pulp Fiber accounts for 5 – 10% by weight, it can enhance the flexural strength of the material by about 8 – 12%. This reinforcement is crucial as it enables the brake shoes to withstand the mechanical stress generated during braking without cracking or deforming easily.
Secondly, Wood Pulp Fiber contributes to improving the compressibility of the brake shoes friction materials. It allows the material to better adapt to the dynamic changes in the braking process. For example, during high – speed braking, the compressibility provided by Wood Pulp Fiber can help the brake shoes to maintain a more stable contact with the brake drum, ensuring a consistent braking force.
Advantages
1. Cost – effectiveness
One of the most prominent advantages of using Wood Pulp Fiber is its cost – effectiveness. Compared with some synthetic fibers used in brake shoes production, Wood Pulp Fiber is 30 – 50% cheaper. This cost – saving aspect makes it an attractive option for brake shoe manufacturers, especially those aiming to produce high – volume, cost – competitive products.
2. Good Thermal Insulation
Wood Pulp Fiber has relatively good thermal insulation properties. In braking tests, brake shoes with Wood Pulp Fiber in their friction materials can reduce the heat transfer to the brake system components by about 15 – 20%. This helps to protect other parts of the braking system from overheating, thus extending the overall service life of the braking system.
3. Renewable and Environmentally Friendly
As a renewable resource, Wood Pulp Fiber is an environmentally friendly choice. It reduces the reliance on non – renewable materials in brake shoes production. In an era where environmental protection is highly emphasized, this characteristic gives Wood Pulp Fiber an edge over many traditional materials used in the brake – shoe industry.
Disadvantages
1. Limited Heat Resistance
Wood Pulp Fiber has a relatively low heat – resistance limit. When the temperature of the brake shoes friction surface exceeds 250°C, the mechanical properties of the Wood Pulp Fiber – containing friction material start to degrade rapidly. In contrast, some high – performance synthetic fibers can withstand temperatures up to 500°C. This limited heat resistance may lead to a reduction in braking performance under high – temperature braking conditions.
2. Moisture Sensitivity
Wood Pulp Fiber is sensitive to moisture. In humid environments, it can absorb moisture, which may cause dimensional changes in the brake shoes friction materials. Laboratory tests show that in an environment with 80% relative humidity, the thickness of the brake shoes friction material with Wood Pulp Fiber can increase by 3 – 5% after 24 hours. This moisture – induced dimensional change may affect the braking precision and stability.
In conclusion, while Wood Pulp Fiber offers significant advantages such as cost – effectiveness and environmental friendliness in brake shoes production, its limitations in heat resistance and moisture sensitivity need to be carefully considered and mitigated through appropriate material design and processing techniques.

