Development of Thermoplastic PET Brake Booster Control Housings

The continuous enhancement of safety requirements due to greater traffic density, higher speeds, and improved driver comfort has boosted worldwide the introduction of power brake actuators as a standard accessory in passenger cars.

Historically the brake actuator control housing has been made from thermoset phenolic compounds due to this material's good dimensional stability. A special glass-reinforced thermoplastic PET compound has been developed and successfully used as alternative material for such control housings. Compared to phenolic it offers the required improved design freedom, lighter weight, better heat aging and improved fatigue behavior, along with similar system costs.

This material is widely used by European brake suppliers and vehicle producers and is starting to be used in both North America and Japan.