DEVELOPMENT OF AUTOMOBILE DISK BRAKE PADS USING ECO-FRIENDLY PERIWINKLE SHELL AND FAN PALM SHELL MATERIALS

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Author

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Department of Engineering

ABSTRACT
This research was conducted to produce asbestosfree automobile disk brake pads using eco-friendly; Periwinkle and Fan palm shells materials. The use of asbestos fiber is being avoided due to its carcinogenic nature that might cause health risks. A new brake pad was produced using agro waste materials (periwinkle shell and fan palmshells)with thermoset resin as a binder to replace asbestos with thermoset as a binder. Two sets of brake pad composites were produced using periwinkleshell and fan palm particles by varying the particlesizes from 125μm to 710μm. The morphology, physical, mechanical and wear properties of the brakepads werestudied. The mechanical properties upon addition of the agro waste improved. Theresults showed that the uniform distribution of the periwinkle shell and the fan palm particles in the microstructure of the brake pad composites is the major factor responsible for the improvement in themechanical properties,though the periwinkle shell pad had better properties. Taguchi technique was used to arrive at 65 % periwinkle or fan palm and 35 % resin as the optimal formulation, with thecorresponding manufacturing parameters as; (moulding pressure41 Kpa, moulding temperature 150 ºC, curing time 10 mins, and heat treatment time1hr.).Design expert software 6.0.8 was employed to on investigate the effect of particle size, speed, temperature and load the coefficient of friction. The design expert analysisshowed thatthe particle size, speed, temperature, loadshave significanteffect on friction coefficient.Brake pads developed from 125μm formulation for both periwinklesand fanpalm shell particlesexhibited better thermal and mechanical properties than those of fan palm shells andcompared favourably with that of commercial brake pad. Hence this research indicates that both periwinkles shell and fan palm particles can be effectively used as replacement for asbestosin the development of automobile disk brake padindicating 14.28%, 15.5 %, and 33.63 % increase in coefficient of friction, hardness, and compressive strength respectively than that of Mercedes Benz 230E salon car.