Effect of alumina nanoparticle on the tribological performance of automotive brake friction materials

Brake friction materials filled with nanoalumina were produced by both conventional and solvent-assisted mixing methods. It was shown that nanoalumina loading led to the reduction of friction coefficient and improvement in mechanical, wear and thermal behaviors. Such behavior was attributed to the role of nanoalumina in producing stable friction layer and easy conduction path in matrix. It was postulated that nanoalumina is able to attach on the surface of microalumina facilitating the rolling of microalumina at interface. Solution-processed samples exhibited lower improvement in tribological and mechanical properties compared to the conventional mixing due to the limited interaction between the nanoalumina and other ingredients.