Graphite Friction Material for Heat Dissipation and Vibration Damping

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Friction materials face a challenge in balancing the contradictory properties of thermal conductivity and spring-back, which are essential for effective heat dissipation and vibration damping, respectively, due to the inherent characteristics of graphitic materials.

Innovation Solution

A friction material comprising graphite with a c/2 value of 0.3358 nm or less and a spring-back of 40% or more, combined with a high degree of graphitization and surface modification treatments such as heat treatment and CVD coating, to achieve optimal thermal conductivity and compressibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If high crystallinity graphite is used, then thermal conductivity is improved, but spring-back decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal conductivityVSAvoidspring-back
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the crystallinity parameter of graphite to a specific range (50-90% as measured by Raman spectroscopy with I(2D)/I(G) ratio of 0.8-1.5) to simultaneously achieve adequate thermal conductivity and high spring-back properties, resolving the contradiction between these two parameters

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses composite friction materials containing graphite particles with controlled crystallinity combined with other materials to achieve the desired balance between thermal conductivity and spring-back, where the composite structure allows both properties to coexist

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If high spring-back graphite is used, then compressibility is improved, but thermal conductivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespring-backVSAvoidthermal conductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the crystallinity parameter within a specific range rather than maximizing spring-back, thereby maintaining adequate thermal conductivity while achieving sufficient spring-back for compressibility and vibration damping

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Temperature

If high degree of graphitization is used, then thermal conductivity is improved, but spring-back properties worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal conductivityVSAvoidspring-back
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the graphitization degree to an optimized range (50-90% crystallinity) rather than using highly graphitized materials, achieving a balance where both thermal conductivity and spring-back properties are satisfactory for friction material applications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively reconciles the opposing properties of graphitization and spring-back, resulting in improved heat dissipation, vibration damping, and noise reduction while maintaining a stable friction coefficient, suitable for use in brake pads.

Implementation Method 1

High crystallinity results in high thermal conductivity for heat dissipation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

Spring-back of graphite is generally correlated to the degree of crystallinity. High spring-back leads to high compressibility of the friction material for good vibration damping and reduced noise

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic recovery: Elastic Recovery

Implementation Method 3

High crystallinity results in good lubrication for stabilization of friction coefficient

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLubrication: Lubrication

Data Source

PatentUS20220090644A1Friction material comprising graphite, methods of making friction materials, and their uses
Publication Date: 2022.03.24 IMERTECH SAS

AI summary

The present invention relates to friction materials comprising graphite having a c/2 of 0.3358 nm or less and a spring-back of 40% or more, such as 41% or more. The invention further relates to methods of making and uses of such friction materials.