Influence of Thermal Fatigue on the Wear Behavior of Brake Discs Sliding against Organic and Semimetallic Friction Materials

Abstract

In this article, brake discs are exposed to high thermal stress, causing thermal fatigue damage. The aim of this work is to study the evolution of the wear behavior of brake disc materials, such as cast iron, chromium steel, and metal matrix composites, under the influence of thermal fatigue. The brake disc specimens are heated and then cooled rapidly. Then, wear tests are carried out using a pin-on-disc-type tribometer. Organic and semimetallic friction materials are used for all wear tests. The results show that thermal fatigue affects the structure of the contact surfaces of all of the disc specimens by increasing their roughness. Furthermore, the wear rate of the friction materials increased, except a reduction of the wear rate is noted for the semimetallic friction material rubbing against cast iron. Moreover, thermal fatigue has no significant influence on the coefficient of friction. The worn surface of the metal matrix composite sliding against semimetallic friction material is characterized by abrasive and adhesive wear mechanisms.