Laboratory Study of a Lignocellulosic Biomass as an Alternative Base Material for Brake Pads

This research work assesses the possibility of using sawdust as a base material for the production of light load brake pad by studying the physical, mechanical and microstructural properties of the developed sawdust-based pads. Different proportions of Afara/Terminalia superba sawdust, slag waste dust, silicon carbide, epoxy resin, and graphite were used to form the polymeric matrix composites as eco-friendly brake pads. Compressive strength, hardness, wear, flame resistance, porosity, density and water absorption of the brake pads were investigated. Clustered particulates of sawdust were formed in the brake pad as the weight percentage of sawdust exceeded 40 owing to the low molecular weight and the particle-to-particle cohesive ability of wood dust. The increase in the particle size of sawdust has an inverse relationship with the hardness value and the wear rate of the developed brake pad. Silicon carbide directly improves the hardness value, the wear rate and the strength of the brake pad. The compressive strength of the brake pad is impeded as the weight percentage of sawdust is increased. An optimum strength of about 126 kPa was achieved with the particle size of 100 μm. The total ash content of the brake pad has a direct correlation with the weight percentage of sawdust. It can be concluded that a lignocellulosic biomass (like wood dust) is a suitable base material for the development of light load brake pads owing to the vulnerability of the pads to generate high ash content.