Development of Eco-Friendly Composite Brake Pad Lining Material by Using Agave Fiber

Abstract

A brake is the most critical safety and important performance component in vehicles. Brake pads were formerly manufactured mainly using asbestos as the friction material (30-70%). Thermally stable temperature for asbestos is up to the 500°C. Asbestos is strong, flexible & available at a reasonable cost but is carcinogenic in nature. This causes serious health problems like lung cancer hence it got banned in India on 21 January 2011. Recently some alternatives are used like low-metallic, semi- metallic, non-asbestos organic & ceramic brake pads but none of these are as good as asbestos in function. So, the purpose of the study is come with a new eco-friendly material. As per the study, it is found that Agave fiber is the right alternative material to asbestos since agave fiber has high strength, is readily available & economical. Further experimentation was done by performing various tests like hardness test, oil socking test, water socking test, Flame resistance test, compression test, pin on disc, and specific gravity to prove that brake Pads manufactured using Agave fiber as the brake material passes through variable testing as per required Standard & the confirms with the standard reference. And the outcomes of this research show that Agave powder can be used supplant for asbestos in brake pad liner material manufacturing.