The U.S. manufacturing industry accounted for more than 10 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product in 2020. With a number like that, it’s easy to see how important it is to keep this industry running smoothly. A lesser-known but essential part of the manufacturing sector is friction materials.
While you may not have heard of these, friction material is essential in many manufacturing industries. Read on to learn three important things about these materials.
1. What Is a Friction Material?
Systems with multiple moving parts in contact with one another use friction material. These materials are many different substances, including ceramics, paper, sintered metal, and metal alloys. The type of substance selected for friction material depends on several factors. These include:
- Performance requirements
- Temperature
- Speed of the moving parts
2. What Are the Uses for Friction Materials?
The parts that friction materials are made into have specific functions within certain systems. Some of them include:
Friction Disc
Friction discs, also called clutch or brake disks, are part of the braking systems on cars and other machinery. The friction disc material attaches to a metal plate.
Clutch Facing
Clutch facings reduce the noise a clutch makes and allow for smoother transitions. These materials need to function under extended periods of stress and high heat.
Brake Pads
The material used in brake pad production includes semi-metallic, non-asbestos organic, and ceramic materials. Regardless of the material, the operation is the same as the pads apply friction to the rotor.
Brake Blocks
Brake blocks are a simple mechanism for stopping the motion of a wheel. Typically made of hard material or rubber, their simplicity allows for production from cheap low friction materials, such as rubber or resin.
3. How Are Friction Materials Produced?
The first step in the production of friction material is the selection of raw materials. There are several substeps to be taken when selecting these materials, including whether you are producing low or high friction materials and if you are using organic, inorganic, or metallic materials.
Once raw materials are selected, they are bonded with phenolic resin. This binding agent is used because of its ability to withstand heat and resist combustion and conduction.
The raw materials are then blended. This process will determine the grade and cost of the finished product. The final step is the performing process, which shapes the friction materials into the final shapes to be used in operation.
Are You Ready to Purchase Friction Materials?
The type of material that you will need depends on multiple factors and the end use. Both the blending and performing process will determine the final product.
If you’re ready to begin the process of finding the perfect friction materials, contact us for all your needs