Influence of Rotor Metallurgy on the Wear of Friction Materials in Automotive Brakes

A drag dynamometer was used to investigate the influence of rotor properties on the wear of automotive brake linings. The effects on lining wear of temperature, surface roughness, thermal conductivity, microstructure and composition were studied quantitatively, and the mechanisms governing lining wear were elucidated. Lining wear at high temperatures increases exponentially with increasing temperature, and decreases exponentially with increasing thermal conductivity of the rotor. The wear increases parabolically with increasing surface roughness of the rotor. Also, coupling of a lining with a rotor having compatible composition and microstructure is very important for controlling the lining wear.