Automotive brake pads made with a bioresin matrix

• Biosourced tannin-furanic binder matrix automotive brake pads were developed.
• Inorganic particles and fibers were incorporated in the biobased matrix binder.
• Braking efficiency and mechanical properties of green brake pads were characterised.
• Biobased automotive brake pads withstood well such a severe application.
• Synthetic matrix commercial brake pads can be substituted by these biobased brake pads.

By using biosourced raw materials such as condensed tannins and furfuryl alcohol a biosourced thermoset resin was developed and used and tested for a new application: as a resin matrix of automotive brake pads. The manufacturing procedure developed is particularly easy. Automotive brake pads based on this green resin were characterized and showed excellent braking properties and wear resistance when used under real car, full scale test conditions. Their mechanical resistance was found to be comparable to that of commercial automotive brake pads bonded with synthetic phenolic resins. They tolerated well the severe stresses induced by a strong braking like an emergency braking: 50 km/h (31 mph) until complete standstill and showed braking distances comparable or shorter than commercial brake pads.