Friction products

Friction linings such as brake and clutch products for cars, trucks and rail vehicles are routinely reinforced with a wide variety of fibres. This improves the performance and aids the manufacturing process.

Our range of friction products offers a number of benefits. From a health and safety perspective, friction formulations no longer use asbestos fibres due to legislation. Instead they incorporate alternative synthetic fibres.

Our aramid fibres and flocks are widely used as reinforcement and process aids (pre-form production) in friction products, as well as in gaskets, while natural fibres and fibre flocks such as cotton, jute and other cellulosic-based fibres are used to reinforce friction products.

Cellulosic fibres char rather than melt when subjected to heat during braking. This is an important property that makes them suitable for numerous uses. Recycled and cellulosic fibres and flocks (pulps) are used in friction product formulation to extend more expensive virgin fibres.

Polyacrylonitrile flocks (pulps) also char under service conditions.
The very high surface area of fibrillated fibre pulps (flocks) from aramid or polyacylonitrile ensures that these products prevent migration of the powdered additives when dry processing ingredients in friction formulations.

Typical grades in current usage include cotton flocks and cotton threads, grades CD 60 and WCT 6000, polyacrylonitrile flocks, PAN 60 and para-aramid flocks, KEV 6000 etc.