Coefficient of Friction Measurements for Thermoplastics and Fiber Composites under Low Sliding Velocity and High Pressure

Friction materials for typical brake applications are normally designed considering thermal stability as the major performance criterion. There are however brake applications with very limited sliding velocities, where the generated heat is insignificant. In such cases it is possible that friction materials which are untypical for brake applications, like thermoplastics and fiber composites, can offer superior performance in terms of braking torque, wear resistance and cost than typical brake linings.

In this paper coefficient of friction measurements for various thermoplastic and fiber composite materials running against a steel surface are presented. All tests were carried out on a pin-on-disc test-rig at a fixed sliding speed and various pressure levels for both dry and grease lubricated conditions.