Composition and Prototype Development of Train Brake Pad Using Natural Fiber

• Main Author: SUJUDI (NIM 13103132), STANLEY
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/11440
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Brake pad is an important part of the train braking system. Needs of train brake pad in Indonesia is fulfilled by metallic brake pad and composite brake pad. In the previous prototype of train brake pad, there is reinforcement material namely fiber glass. Fiber glass is function as reinforcement. However, fiber glass has disadvantage that can disturb breathing system if it is inhaled. Therefore, writer attempt to change fiber glass with coconut fiber with hope to get better quality of train brake pad.<p>In this final project, there are several steps for research, including development of brake pad composition using natural fiber, producing of prototype, specimen testing, and analyzing from the result of specimen testing. Mechanical testing in this research are crush strength testing, cross breaking testing, and friction testing.<p> Analysis result show that optimum percentage of coconut fiber for material modifying is 100%. Pressing time 40 minutes, 60 minutes, 80 minutes, and 100 minutes has no effect to crush strength. Cross breaking strength increase when pressing time rise from 40 minutes to 100 minutes. Pressing time 40 minutes, 60 minutes, 80 minutes, and 100 minutes has no effect to coefficient of friction. Therefore, most optimum pressing time is 100 minutes. In addition, raising Fe percentage from 4.930% to 6.339% increase crush strength in the amount of 99.35% (from 28.45 MPa to 58.71 MPa), increase cross breaking in the amount of 43.95% (from 16.77 MPa to 24.14 MPa), decrease coefficient of friction in the amount of 12.90% (from 0.31 to 0.27), but also has down side effect increasing the noise. <br />