Optimization and assessment of brake pad production parameters and organic Juniperus drupacea cone powder additive ratio using the Taguchi method

In this study, an organic brake pad content was created to increase the overall tribological performance of the automobile brake system. Brake lining samples were obtained by hot molding method using juniperus drupacea cones powder which is not found in the literature in addition to barite, phenolic resin, fiber types (glass, carbon and basalt) and coke in the lining content. In order to determine the most ideal production conditions and content ratios, parameter combinations based on the L₁₈(2¹ × 3⁵) Taguchi orthogonal index were used according to the density, hardness, wear rate, friction coefficient objective functions. The density and hardness of the samples produced based on the orthogonal design were measured. A wear test was performed on a pin-on-disc type tribometer and the wear rate and friction coefficients were calculated according to the obtained values. Signal to noise (S/N) ratio and ANOVA analysis were performed to determine the brake pad composition with the most ideal tribological properties. According to the results, the mixing time is 15 min., the molding temperature is 160 °C, the molding pressure is 100 MPa and the molding time is 15 min., have been found to be the optimum production conditions. In addition, it was observed that the density and hardness decreased as the amount of juniperus drupacea cone powder was increased. For this reason, it has been observed that the juniperus drupacea cone powder used for the first time in the brake lining composition can be used in lining content up to 25%, preferably up to 10% by weight.