What Materials Are Friction Plates Made Of?
2 Answers
Friction plates are primarily composed of rubber, cork, and fiber materials, and do not contain asbestos. Below is an introduction to the types of friction plates: 1. Paper-based friction materials: Mainly made from imported carbon fiber, aramid fiber, and imported resin through compounding. Suitable for racing cars and high-displacement motorcycles, they feature extremely stable friction coefficients, minimal high-temperature friction coefficient degradation, excellent resistance to burning, and superior thermal recovery performance (the friction coefficient quickly returns to its original state after the clutch cools down following high-temperature slippage). 2. Resin-based friction materials: Primarily composed of reinforcing fibers, friction powder, and resin through compounding. They exhibit high hardness, wear resistance, and can withstand temperatures up to 350 degrees Celsius. Mainly used in various mechanical clutches and motor reducers, their performance is comparable to that of imported products from Taiwan. 3. Carbon fiber friction materials: Mainly made from carbon fiber, imported rubber, and imported cork as the primary raw materials, processed with high-quality techniques. They can withstand temperatures up to 350 degrees Celsius, endure wear over 25,000 kilometers, produce no noise, resist slipping and burning, making them premium products among friction materials. 4. Semi-metallic friction materials: Mainly composed of rubber, friction powder, fiber, and metal fiber through compounding. The products feature wear resistance, ultra-high hardness, and high friction coefficients, making them the best choice for mechanical clutches and motor braking systems.
I've replaced quite a few brake pads during repairs. Friction materials are essentially composite materials pressed from several components. The most common formulation uses resin as a binder mixed with metal powders for enhanced wear resistance—copper and iron powders are typical, while premium versions may incorporate ceramic particles. The middle fiber layer is crucial—asbestos has been phased out and replaced with aramid fibers that offer superior heat resistance and toughness. I've seen cases where aggressive driving caused standard friction materials to turn blue-purple from phenolic resin overheating. Nowadays, copper-free formulations are trending in EVs for environmental reasons, though they tend to deliver a firmer pedal feel in practice.
