How does the material of Disc Brake Pads affect the braking performance and noise of the brake pads?

The material of Disc Brake Pads plays a crucial role in determining braking performance and noise levels. Different materials not only affect the friction coefficient, thermal decay, wear resistance and other properties of the brake pad, but also directly affect the noise performance during braking. The following is a detailed analysis of how some common materials affect braking performance and noise:

Organic Brake Pads
Material composition: Organic brake pads are usually made of rubber, aramid fiber, glass fiber, resin and other fillers. They are a more traditional and economical choice.
Braking performance: Organic brake pads usually have a lower coefficient of friction, so the braking performance is not as good as metal-based or ceramic brake pads. They are suitable for light vehicles or daily driving because they are stable under normal driving conditions, but may experience performance decay (thermal decay) under high temperature or high load.
Noise performance: Organic brake pads can effectively reduce the noise during braking due to their softer material. Compared with metal materials, they usually produce less braking noise, especially during light braking. In addition, this material causes less wear on the brake disc, which can also reduce the noise that may be generated during braking.
Summary: Organic brake pads have better noise control and are suitable for low temperature and daily urban driving, but their braking performance and high temperature resistance are weak.
Semi-Metallic Brake Pads
Material composition: Semi-metallic brake pads contain a mixture of metal fibers (such as copper, steel, iron, etc.) and organic materials, and the metal content is usually between 30% and 65%. The addition of metal components enhances the high temperature resistance and friction of the brake pads.
Braking performance: Semi-metallic brake pads have a higher coefficient of friction and provide stronger braking performance, especially suitable for high-performance vehicles or use at high speeds. These brake pads are better able to cope with thermal decay problems, so they perform stably during long-term or high-load braking.
Noise performance: Due to the high metal content, semi-metallic brake pads tend to produce louder noise, especially at low speeds or light braking. Metal friction during braking may cause "screaming" or "scratching" sounds, especially in wet or cold weather conditions.
Summary: Semi-metallic brake pads have strong braking performance and are suitable for high-load and high-temperature environments, but they are noisy and suitable for applications with high braking performance requirements.
Ceramic Brake Pads
Material composition: Ceramic brake pads use ceramic fiber, glass fiber and other inorganic materials, usually containing a small amount of metal components. They have a denser structure, smoother surface, high temperature resistance and stable friction performance.

Braking performance: Ceramic brake pads have very high friction stability and can maintain stable braking performance even under extreme temperatures and long-term use. They have excellent thermal decay performance and are not prone to brake performance degradation. In addition, the high hardness of ceramic materials makes the brake pads have good wear resistance and long service life.
Noise performance: Ceramic brake pads usually have excellent noise performance. Due to the characteristics of their material, ceramic brake pads produce almost no braking noise. They are quieter than semi-metallic brake pads, and can effectively reduce noise and provide a smooth driving experience even under frequent braking or high temperature conditions.
Summary: Ceramic brake pads have excellent braking performance and noise control, and are suitable for high-end and high-performance vehicles, especially under high temperature and frequent braking conditions, and their braking performance is very stable.
Low-Metallic Brake Pads
Material composition: Low-metallic brake pads are a variant of semi-metallic brake pads, which contain a lower proportion of metal components (usually between 10%-30%) and incorporate organic components.
Braking performance: Low-metallic brake pads have a higher coefficient of friction than pure organic brake pads, but lower than semi-metallic brake pads. They have good high temperature resistance and are suitable for daily driving and mild high-load driving, but may fade under high temperature and long-term braking.
Noise performance: Compared with semi-metallic brake pads, low-metallic brake pads produce less noise and better noise control performance, but due to the presence of a small amount of metal, they may still produce slight noise under certain conditions.
Summary: Low-metallic brake pads find a balance between braking performance and noise, and are suitable for consumers who focus on cost-effectiveness and require medium braking performance.
Carbon Fiber Brake Pads
Material composition: Carbon fiber brake pads are usually made of carbon fiber mixed with organic or metal components. Carbon fiber materials provide extremely high strength and thermal stability.
Braking performance: Carbon fiber brake pads provide excellent braking performance with a high coefficient of friction, suitable for high-performance cars and racing cars. They have good thermal decay performance and can maintain efficient braking under long-term high-load use.
Noise performance: Carbon fiber brake pads have low noise and usually do not produce sharp braking sounds. Due to the characteristics of the material, they provide a smooth and quiet braking experience.
Summary: Carbon fiber brake pads perform well in braking performance and noise control, suitable for high-performance and racing environments.
Conclusion:

Therefore, choosing a suitable brake pad material requires comprehensive consideration of braking performance and noise requirements, and making the best choice based on driving environment, vehicle performance and personal preferences.