How to optimize friction and heat transfer in Brake Shoe Assembly?

Optimizing the friction performance and heat conduction effect of the brake shoe assembly is the key to improving braking efficiency, safety and service life. The following is a detailed explanation from the aspects of material selection, structural design, process improvement and environmental adaptability:

Use high-performance composite friction materials (such as ceramics, non-asbestos organic materials or metal fiber reinforced materials) to improve the stability of the friction coefficient and ensure the braking effect under various working conditions.
Add friction stabilizers (such as silicates or silicon carbide) and wear enhancers to reduce the wear rate of the friction surface.

Optimize the coefficient range of friction materials (generally 0.35~0.45) for different models and usage scenarios. Too high a coefficient may cause locking, and too low a coefficient will reduce the braking force.

Add metal powders with excellent thermal conductivity (such as copper powder or aluminum powder) to the material to reduce the problem of friction coefficient reduction under high temperature conditions.
Select materials that can withstand high temperatures (over 350°C) to avoid thermal decay (Brake Fade).

Add specific patterns or hole structures to the surface of the friction pad to optimize the friction contact area and reduce stress concentration on the friction pad.
Enhance the adhesion between the brake shoe and the brake drum surface, while improving the brake noise problem.

Increase the hardness of the friction material surface through heat treatment process to avoid the loss of friction performance due to surface softening during braking.

Add anti-slip additives to ensure stable friction in a humid environment and avoid "slipping".

Use high thermal conductivity metals (such as aluminum alloys or copper alloys) as the base material of the brake shoe to improve the heat transfer efficiency, thereby reducing the temperature rise of the brake drum and friction pad.
For heavy-duty vehicles, carbon-ceramic composite materials can be used, which have good thermal conductivity and extremely high temperature resistance.
Lightweight design

Reduce the mass of the brake shoe assembly (such as through material compounding or reducing the volume of non-critical components) to reduce heat accumulation.

Design heat dissipation holes or slots on the brake shoe to increase air circulation and promote rapid heat dissipation.
The surface of the brake drum of the drum brake system can be designed with heat dissipation grooves or ventilation holes to further accelerate cooling.

Apply a high-temperature resistant radiation coating or ceramic coating on the surface of the brake shoe to enhance its radiation heat dissipation capacity.

Add a heat insulation layer between the friction plate and the substrate to reduce heat transfer to other parts of the brake system and protect the brake drum and brake fluid.

Ensure that the thermal expansion coefficients of the friction material and the substrate match to avoid shedding or deformation problems caused by high temperature.

The friction layer is separated from the substrate through a layered structure, and a buffer layer is set in the middle to reduce the speed of high temperature conduction to the substrate.

The friction performance and heat conduction effect of the brake shoe assembly are closely related to the material and surface quality of the brake drum. Use high-strength, high-temperature resistant brake drum materials (such as cast iron or alloy steel) and clean the brake drum surface regularly to avoid foreign matter hindering heat dissipation.

Install an automatic clearance adjustment device to ensure that the clearance between the brake shoe and the brake drum is always in the optimal range to avoid heat concentration or insufficient braking force due to excessive clearance.

The brake shoe assembly is subjected to bench testing and road simulation experiments to monitor its friction performance and heat conduction performance under different temperature, speed and load conditions, and continuously optimize the design and material selection.

By optimizing the friction material formula, improving the heat dissipation structure design and improving the thermal conductivity of the base material, the friction performance and heat conduction effect of the brake shoe assembly can be significantly improved. This systematic optimization can not only ensure the braking safety of the vehicle under various working conditions, but also extend the service life of the brake system and enhance the user's driving experience.