INVESTIGATION OF THE POTENTIALS OF SISAL-PALM SLAG COMPOSITES AS MATERIALS FOR ASBESTOS FREE BRAKE PAD

Abstract

ABSTRACT Asbestos are employed in brake pads on account of their good physico-mechanical properties. However, they are now being avoided because of the health challenges associated with their application. This research investigated the potentials of sisal- palm slag composite material for automobile brake pad production. Ten composite brake pads prototypes were produced in varying proportions of sisal (20-30%), palm slag (20-30%), epoxy resin (15-20%), steel dust (15-20%) and silica (10-15%). The composition was formulated based on the output generated from extreme vertices experimental design. Conventional brake pad (CBP) sample was used as control in the study. Key physical and tribo-mechanical properties such as density (ρ), porosity (φ), wear rate (Ŵ), hardness HB and compressive strength (σ) of the produced brake pad and control were determined following recommended standards and procedures. The produced brake pad’s structural morphologies as well as that of the control samples were evaluated via JEOL.JSM- 7600F scanning electron microscope at a magnification of 10000. The test result of the produced samples revealed that the ρ values varied from 1.3123 ± 0.1 – 1.4375 ± 0.2 g/cm3, while φ values varied from 23.40 ± 0.1 – 30.44 ± 0.2%. The values of Ŵ varied from 1.143 ± 0.1– 1.571± 0.5 mg/min. The HB values varied from 76.77 ± 0.1 – 102.28 ± 0.2 BHN, while σ values varied from 26.74 ± 0.1 – 39.64 ± 0.5 N/mm2. The CBP recorded average values of 1.7800 g/cm, 22.23%, 1.127 mg/min, 110 BHN and 43.20 N/mm2 for ρ, φ, Ŵ, HB and σ respectively. Among the prototype brake pad sample produced, sample 5 with composition of 20% sisal, 25% palm slag, 15% epoxy resin, 15% steel dust, 15% silica and 10% graphite powder had values of 1.3329 g/cm3, 23.40%, 1.143mg/min 102.28BHN and 39.64 N/mm2 for ρ, φ, Ŵ, HB and σ respectively, making it the best performed sample, while sample 9 with composition 25% sisal, 20% palm slag, 20% epoxy resin, 15% steel dust, 10% silica and 10% graphite, had average values of 1.3123 g/cm3, 30.43%, 1.572 mg/min, 76.77 BHN and 26.74 N/mm2 for the above parameters respectively was the least performed sample. When compared to the CBP,the best performed sample exhibited a slightly higher φ andŴ of 5% and 1.3% and a lower HB and σ of 7% and 8.2%. The structural morphology of all the samples showed even distribution of grains in the body of the matrix. The study revealed the positive potentials of sisal – palm slag composites as candidate material for asbestos free brake pad.