Electron Microscopic Characterization of the Brake Assembly Components (Disc and Pads) from Passenger Vehicles

The present work focuses on a detailed analysis of new and used braking friction partners (discs pads) in order to provide comprehensive characterization the source airborne particles formed during braking. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy dispersive X-Ray (EDX) was applied investigate brake disc pad components passenger vehicle. pads include at least 21 different substances, involving carbonaceous particles, oxides, sulfides, sulfates silicates Al, Si, K, Ca, Ti, Fe, Zr, Sn, less Mg, Ba, Na and, rarely, Bi Zn, as well K-titanate. Aramid phenolic resin are also present, enriched toward metal interface. size constituents extends over very wide range, from hundreds µm few µm, goes down nm tens nanometers. Carbonaceous sizes nanometers occupy ca. 16% total constituents. Abundant Zr-bearing phases, various other phases S, Ti lower extent, Ba Fe combinations, constitute main matrix.