The effect of speed on wear rate and coefficient of friction of rice plant fiber reinforced composite as a brake lining material

Abstract

A rice plant fiber reinforced composite is composed from a matrix in the form of polyester resin and a dispersed phase in the form of aluminum powder, fiberglass and rice plant fiber. This composite has the potential to replace asbestos as a brake lining material, because asbestos powder is harmful to human health. In use, the brake lining will move and rub against another component. The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of speed on wear rate and the coefficient of friction. The composite material mixture that has been in accordance with the composition is put into the brake lining mold and then pressed and sintered. Furthermore, tests for wear and friction resistance are carried out to obtain the wear rate and coefficient of friction. The results showed that the higher the speed the higher the wear rate. In dry operating conditions, increasing the speed from 1000 rpm to 3000 rpm will provide an increase in wear rate of 11.67%. Meanwhile, in wet operating conditions, the increase in speed from 1000 rpm to 3000 rpm increases the wear rate by 11.35%. At the same speed, the wear rate under dry operating conditions is higher than the wear rate under wet operating conditions. In the friction test under dry operating conditions, there was an increase in the coefficient of friction of 10.46% when the speed was increased from 1000 rpm to 3000 rpm. The coefficient of friction also increased by 6.86% when the test was carried out under wet operating conditions. The coefficient of friction under wet operating conditions is lower than the coefficient of friction under dry operating conditions at the same speed. Metallographic observations of the friction surface show a cohesive failure due to friction.