Development of Composite Materials for Tricycle Brake Pads

Abstract

Coconut fiber and rice dust are locally sourced, developed, and evaluated as agro-waste materials to replace carcinogenic asbestos fibers in brake pad production. The process involves crushing, grinding, and sieving coconut fiber into a powder, mixing it with steel dust, carbon black, and epoxy resin, filling a mould, adding hardener, and pressing and curing samples at 250 °C. The produce is tested for mechanical properties, with optimal brake pad properties achieved using a 100μm sieve grade, enhancing interfacial bonding between resin and coconut shell particles. The hardness, compressive strength, ash content, specific gravity, wear rate, and water absorption values were found to be 258, 113 N/mm2, 40%, 1.91, 3.23 mg/m, and 0.63%. The study found that coconut shell has qualities similar to those needed for brake pad material and asbestos replacement in brake pad production. Coconut shell, with its 100μm particle size, has the potential to replace asbestos-based brake pad manufacturing, reducing harmful components and environmental impact.