As the core component of the vehicle braking system, the molding process of truck brake pads directly affects the braking performance, durability and safety. With the rapid development of the logistics and transportation industry, the demand for high-performance brake pads is growing, and understanding its molding process is particularly important for industry practitioners.
Raw material preparation and mixing
The molding of brake pads begins with the precise proportion of raw materials. The main raw materials include friction materials (such as ceramic fibers, steel fibers, graphite, etc.), adhesives (such as phenolic resins) and fillers (such as barium sulfate, mica, etc.). These materials need to be mixed in a specific proportion to ensure that the brake pads maintain a stable friction coefficient and wear resistance under high temperature and high pressure environments. Modern processes often use automated mixing equipment to ensure uniform distribution of materials and reduce human errors.
Cold pressing molding
The mixed raw materials are initially shaped by the cold pressing process. In the cold press, the raw materials are pressed into the mold to form the prototype of the brake pad. The pressure at this stage is usually controlled in a low range (about 5-10MPa) to avoid premature curing of the resin. The advantage of cold pressing molding is that it reduces the risk of deformation in the hot pressing stage while improving production efficiency.
Hot Pressing Curing
After cold pressing, the brake pad enters the hot pressing process and completes the final shaping under high temperature and high pressure. The temperature is usually set at 150-200℃, and the pressure is increased to 15-25MPa to fully cure the resin and form a high-strength friction layer. The hot pressing time is adjusted according to the thickness of the product, generally a few minutes to more than ten minutes. The control of temperature and pressure at this stage is crucial, which directly affects the hardness and wear resistance of the brake pad.
Post-processing and testing
The hot-pressed brake pad needs to undergo post-processing processes such as grinding and drilling to ensure dimensional accuracy and installation adaptability. Strict quality inspections are then carried out, including friction coefficient testing, wear rate evaluation, and high temperature resistance verification. Some high-end products also need to pass bench tests or actual road tests to ensure compliance with international standards (such as ISO 26865 or ECE R90).
Process innovation trends
In recent years, as environmental regulations have become stricter, asbestos-free and low-metal formulas have become mainstream. At the same time, the application of 3D printing molds and intelligent temperature control technology has further improved molding accuracy and production efficiency. In the future, lightweight materials and digital processes may become the breakthrough direction of the industry.
Mastering the molding process of truck brake pads will not only help improve product quality, but also provide more professional technical support for foreign trade customers.
