As the core component of the vehicle braking system, the production process of automobile brake pads directly affects the braking performance and driving safety. With the development of the global automobile manufacturing industry, the production technology of brake pads is also constantly upgrading. This article will introduce the main production process of automobile brake pads in detail to help industry practitioners and foreign trade customers have a deeper understanding of the manufacturing process of this key component.
1. Raw material preparation
The main raw materials of brake pads include friction materials, adhesives, reinforcing fibers and fillers. Friction materials are usually made of organic or semi-metallic composite materials, such as phenolic resin, copper fiber, graphite, etc., to ensure wear resistance and thermal stability. The raw materials must be strictly screened and proportioned to meet the needs of different models and road conditions.
2. Mixing and pressing
After the raw materials are mixed in proportion, they enter the pressing stage. The mixing process must ensure that the materials are evenly distributed to avoid unstable performance of the brake pads due to uneven composition. The pressing stage uses a hydraulic press or molding equipment to press the mixed materials into a specific shape of brake pad blanks under high temperature and high pressure. This process has extremely high requirements for temperature and pressure control, which directly affects the density and hardness of the brake pads.
3. Heat treatment (sintering)
The pressed brake pad blank needs to be heat treated, i.e., sintered. Under high temperature, the adhesive solidifies and the friction material is further densified, thereby improving the high temperature resistance and wear resistance of the brake pad. The sintering temperature is usually between 300°C and 500°C, and the specific parameters are adjusted according to the material formula.
4. Post-processing and surface treatment
The sintered brake pad needs to be post-processed, including grinding, drilling and other processes to ensure dimensional accuracy and installation adaptability. Some high-end brake pads will also be surface coated, such as spraying graphite or ceramic coating, to optimize friction performance and heat dissipation.
5. Quality inspection and packaging
Finally, the finished brake pads need to pass strict quality inspections, including hardness testing, friction coefficient testing, high temperature resistance testing, etc., to ensure compliance with international standards (such as ISO, SAE, etc.). After packaging, qualified products can enter the global supply chain to meet the needs of automobile manufacturers and the aftermarket.
The production process of automotive brake pads combines material science, machining and quality control technology, and each link is crucial. Understanding this process will help foreign trade practitioners better grasp product quality and provide customers with reliable product solutions.
