Laboratory Researches Regarding Wear of the Composite Materials for Making Brake Shoes

Abstract

The paper presents the results of the experiments on obtaining a composite material to be used in manufacturing brake shoes for the rolling stock. The aim was to replace the classical material used at present for the manufacturing of brake shoes: cast iron with a specially designed composite material. Six recipes have been tested and compared to a standard sample made of phosphorous cast iron. The wear trials carried out in laboratory conditions on the experimental test rods have led to results that entitle further experiments that implies the manufacturing of brake shoes made of the composite material in question.

Aspects Regarding the Braking Capacity of Composite Brake Shoes for Railway Vehicles

“…Frictional modifiers are mainly used in order to enhance frictional stability and to control the wear rates of both brake blocks and wheel running surface. The amount of alumina and silica, typical abrasive particles, increase the friction coefficient, but also the wear, so the composition has to be carefully balanced in order to satisfy two important requests: high friction levels and low wear rates [8].…”