Hybrid phenolic friction composites containing Kevlar® pulp Part 1. Enhancement of friction and wear performance☆

The friction and wear characteristics of control (without Kevlar® pulp) and hybrid (with Kevlar® pulp) phenolic composites containing milled E-glass or steel were determined at various counterface speeds and temperatures using a Chase friction tester. In general, Kevlar® pulp significantly improved the wear resistance and decreased the coefficient of friction for both types of hybrid composites. Kevlar® pulp also imparted excellent frictional stability at high speeds in steel-fiber composites and significantly reduced higher frequency ( > 5 kHz) noise at high speeds in both steel and glass-fiber composites. The stabilization of the coefficient of friction and reduction of noise was not due to the reduction of the coefficient of friction because it also occurred at constant frictional force. The addition of Kevlar® pulp to a steel-fiber-containing formulation significantly improved its overall performance.