Development and Evaluation of Maize Husks (Asbestos-Free) Based Brake Pad

The development and evaluation of maize husks as asbestos-free friction material for the production of automotive brake pad was carried out in this work. Asbestos friction material that has been used for over 80 years was found to be carcinogenic in nature and has prompted several research efforts for its replacement from brake pads. Three sets of composite compositions were made using maize husks as filler material to impart friction properties with varied epoxy resin contents as the matrix that bonded the particles in the mix. Brake pad specimens were made out of the composites and subjected to mechanical, physical and tribological analyses to ascertain their possible performance in service using standard test procedures, materials and equipment. The particulate size of the MH filler material was 300µm and epoxy resin was in slurry. The result showed that specimen composite 3 with 30 % MH filler content having coefficient of friction, abrasion resistance, water absorption, oil absorption, density, hardness, tensile strength, compressive strength, and thermal conductivity of