How can the safety performance of Drum Brake Linings be ensured to reduce brake failure and accidents?

Ensuring the safety performance of drum brake linings is crucial because the brake system is one of the most critical safety components of a vehicle. In order to reduce brake failure and accidents, special attention needs to be paid to the design, material selection, production process and maintenance of drum brake linings. The following are some key measures to ensure the safety performance of drum brake linings:

1. Material selection and formulation optimization
Heat resistance and thermal decay protection: Drum brakes generate a lot of heat during high-load braking. Excessive temperature will cause thermal decay of friction materials, affecting the braking effect and even causing brake failure. To avoid this, it is very important to choose friction materials that are resistant to high temperatures and have low thermal decay. For example, the use of high-temperature resistant friction materials such as ceramic materials and metal-based composites can effectively improve the thermal stability of linings.

Uniform friction coefficient: The friction coefficient of friction materials needs to remain stable over a wide temperature range to prevent a sharp drop in friction at extreme temperatures or after long-term use. Reasonable proportions of organic, semi-metallic or asbestos-free materials can ensure that linings exhibit consistent friction characteristics under various working environments.

Wear resistance: The wear resistance of drum brake linings directly affects their service life. By selecting materials with high wear resistance and corrosion resistance, the reduction in braking effect caused by excessive wear can be reduced.

2. Design and structural optimization
Uniform thickness and friction surface design: The thickness of drum brake linings should not be too thin or too thick. Too thin may cause rapid wear, while too thick may affect the braking performance. Reasonable design thickness and uniform distribution of friction surface help ensure uniform friction during braking, thereby improving braking safety.

Pore design and heat dissipation structure: A certain number of pores can be designed on the surface of drum brake linings to improve heat dissipation efficiency and avoid thermal decay caused by overheating. At the same time, the design of appropriate heat dissipation holes or heat sinks can enhance the heat dissipation capacity of the brake system, thereby improving the thermal stability of the lining and reducing the risk of brake failure caused by overheating.

3. Pressing and production process control
Precise molds and processing technology: The production of drum brake linings requires the use of high-precision molds to ensure that the size, shape and friction characteristics of each lining are consistent. During the production process, the proportion of friction materials and the pressing process must be strictly controlled to avoid bubbles, impurities or uneven distribution of components, which affect the performance and durability of the lining.

Surface treatment: Surface treatment technology (such as heat treatment, spraying, etc.) can improve the wear resistance and corrosion resistance of the lining. Prevent the performance of the lining from deteriorating due to long-term use or contact with external substances (such as moisture, salt, etc.).

4. Thermal management and overheating protection
Thermal decay monitoring and design: Thermal decay is one of the main reasons for the failure of drum brake linings. During the design process, simulation and testing should be used to simulate the heat load in actual use to ensure that the lining can still maintain stable friction and performance under high temperature conditions. At the same time, when designing the lining, the thermal management of the lining can be improved by adding a thermal isolation layer or a heat sink.

Thermal expansion coefficient matching: The thermal expansion coefficient of the lining material should match the thermal expansion coefficient of the brake drum to avoid lining shedding or uneven friction caused by excessive temperature difference.

5. Brake failure warning system
Wear indicator function: Many modern drum brake linings are designed with wear indicators, which can remind the owner to replace the brake lining when the lining is worn to a certain extent. These indicators can alert users through color changes, sounds or other physical signals to avoid brake failure caused by excessive wear of the lining.

Durability testing and verification: Through rigorous durability testing, including extreme conditions such as high temperature, wet and slippery, high load, and high-frequency braking, the brake linings can be ensured to work reliably in various conditions. These tests help identify potential design defects or material problems and ensure that the product meets safety standards.

6. Quality control and certification
Strict quality control system: During the production process, it is necessary to ensure that each batch of drum brake linings meets quality standards. By using high-precision testing equipment, each lining is tested for size, friction performance, strength, heat resistance, etc. to ensure product consistency and reliability.

International standard certification: Drum brake linings should comply with international automotive brake system safety standards, such as SAE (American Society of Automotive Engineers), ECE R90 and other certifications to ensure product safety and compliance worldwide.

7. Regular maintenance and replacement
Regular inspection and maintenance: Although modern brake linings are more durable, it is still necessary to regularly check the wear of the linings to ensure that the thickness and surface condition of the linings meet safety standards. Vehicle owners should regularly check the brake system, including the wear of the brake linings and brake drums, to ensure good braking performance.

Appropriate replacement cycle: Replace drum brake linings in a timely manner according to the manufacturer's recommendations or the vehicle manual according to the recommended cycle. Expired use or excessive wear of the linings may cause brake failure or even accidents.

8. Strengthen the comprehensive design of the brake system
Brake system integrated optimization: The safety performance of drum brake linings does not only depend on the linings themselves, but is also closely related to the overall design of the brake system. When designing, the performance of components such as brake drums, brake fluids, and brake master cylinders should be comprehensively considered to ensure that the entire brake system reaches the best working state.

Redundant design and fault prevention: In addition to basic brake linings, redundant mechanisms (such as dual-circuit brake systems) can also be designed to ensure that even if a part fails, the system can still maintain basic braking functions, thereby improving the safety of the vehicle.

Ensuring the safety performance of drum brake linings involves many aspects, including material selection, design optimization, production process control, thermal management, and regular quality inspection and maintenance. Through precise design and strict production control, we ensure that drum brake linings can provide stable friction performance and high reliability in different working environments, reduce the risk of brake failure, and thus ensure the safety of vehicles during driving.