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The quest for quality brake pads for use in aircrafts and automobiles to ensure effectiveness and safety continues to attract attention. Hence, this study was carried out as part of the global efforts at tackling the problem of the low durability of these friction materials. An iron millscale (IMS) particle reinforced ceramic matrix composite (CMC) was developed by the powder metallurgy method and characterised. The IMS particle addition varied from 5-30 wt.% in each CMC produced at different particle size distributions (106-250 m) using silica (SiO 2 ), magnesia (MgO), and sodium bentonite as matrices. On the basis of the close correlation between structure and property, the CMCs were subjected to physical, mechanical, and microstructural characterisation using X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). The composite exhibits desirable physical and mechanical properties in terms of density (2.97 g/cm 3 ), porosity (1.24%), linear shrinkage (1.39%), impact energy (43.07 J), and compressive strength (114.17 MN/m 2 ). These values compare very well with the values of brake pads obtained in previous studies and conventional/commercial brake pads, indicating a potential for effective performance in service.

Utilisation of particles of coconut shell and cow bone as reinforcing materials for the production of low density hybrid polyethylene matrix composites by stir casting method was carried out. 50 µm coconut shell and 50 µm cow bone particulates in different proportions (5-25 wt. %) were mixed with polyethylene and the microstructural, physical and mechanical characterisations were determined using standardised methods. The hybrid composite exhibited desirable properties in terms of water absorption (0.3 %) indicating reduced pores/voids. It also exhibited ultimate tensile strength (1.78 MPa) and hardness (12.78 HBN) at 15 wt. % filler addition. The uniform dispersion of the reinforcing particles as observed in the SEM microstructure and the strong adhesion of the particles and polyethylene matrix contributed to the enhancement of the tensile strength and hardness of the composites. Increasing the filler concentration beyond 15 wt. % caused a decrease in the average inter-particle distance/spacing thereby increasing the amount of interparticle stress concentration overlap. This led to higher levels of debonding when tensile stress was applied. This ultimately impaired the tensile strength of the composites. The strain energy stored in the matrix which could be equal to the

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