Role of constituents of friction materials on their sliding behavior between room temperature and 400 °C

• Performance of some material constituents on the friction.
• Inter-relationship between frictional, thermal, and thermo-mechanical properties.
• Understanding evolution of friction during temperature cycling.
• Thermal stability and thermo-mechanical behavior of individual constituents.
• Friction behavior relies on thermo-physical and mechanical aspects.

A brass-free and a brass-containing model friction material were investigated for their frictional behavior at temperatures increasing from room temperature (RT) up to 400 °C, and back. This research highlights the effect of some material constituents on the friction recorded under sliding against stainless steel at pre-selected and well characterized areas. Sliding specifically onto rock fibers increases friction in comparison to sliding onto the other constituents inclusive brass particles. On recording a mean friction across areas containing the different constituents of both model friction materials, no difference was noticed between the brass-free and brass-containing one up to 400 °C. However, at 400 °C that mean friction drastically decreases on both composites. Thermal stability and thermo-mechanical behavior of the individual constituents allowed to explain the evolution of friction during temperature cycling. Degradation of the organic constituents present in both model friction materials appeared as the factor determining friction.