Friction

Our Abrasive Paints are single-layer paints, which can be applied onto the friction material of brake pads and linings in order to improve the braking performance (out-of-the-box performance) during the first brake applications. 

For environmental reasons, these paints are all water-based. 

Typical colors are black, grey, red-brown and green. Application can be done by painting, rolling or silk-screen printing. 

The viscosity can be easily changed to suit any application method. Tailor-made solutions are also available.

Our Adhesives are designed for the bonding of friction material to metal backplates. For environmental reasons, our customers highly appreciate our range of water-based products. 

These come in various types, depending on e.g. which curing temperature and time are desired for the specific product and production cycle. Possible application methods are: Spraying, roller coating or silk-screen printing. Viscosity can be easily changed to suit the application method.

Our Aluminium Fibers are made from AlMg5 alloy (AlMgSi1 is also possible); the fibers have an irregular length as well as geometry (e.g. "L" or "U" shape). 

The main properties are high acids resistance, high electrical and thermal conductivity as well as a low density.

Aluminium Hydroxide [Al(OH)₃] is mostly used as a flame retardant filler in the wire and cable, construction and friction industry.

Our grades offer not only technical properties like ultra fine particles, very narrow particle size distributions and platelet-like morphologies, but also high specific surface areas. Often this product is also used in clutch facings, due to its very hygroscopic nature.

Aluminium Hydroxide does not generate toxic or corrosive gases during thermal decomposition. In addition, there is a distinct reduction in smoke density and it is free of halogens. 

There are also silanized grades available for longer durability of this raw material.

We offer both calcined as well as fused Aluminium Oxides (Al₂O₃).

Calcined Aluminium Oxides are among the most commonly used abrasives in the friction materials industry and come in two varieties, alpha and gamma oxides. 

While alpha oxides have a high hardness of 8-9 Mohs they are still not overly aggressive towards the brake disc unless a high-calcined grade is chosen. In general, the higher the grade of calcination, the harder and more crystal-like the material.

Gamma oxides on the other hand have a lower hardness of 6-7 Mohs and tend to be less used, mostly for special applications in NAO type friction-formulations only.

We also carry a variety of special grades with very fine particle sizes that have shown to lower disc wear while maintaining friction level, such as NO265. This grade is also recommended to solve metal pick up issues.

Fused Aluminium Oxides, sometimes also referred to as corundum, are widely used raw materials in the abrasives and refractories industry.

Depending on the mix ratio of the base materials, the resulting material is referred to as brown or white fused alumina because of the respective colour.

Its main properties are a high hardness of typically 9 Mohs as well as abrasiveness and temperature stability. It is more often used in heavy duty friction applications where a high load friction coefficient is the major concern.

Aluminium Titanate (Al₂TiO₅) is a technical oxide-ceramics known for its excellent thermal shock resistance behavior, low thermal conductivity and very low thermal expansion coefficient. 

Therefore it is often used for components subject to high thermal stress levels. In addition, the material possesses good corrosion resistance and very low wettability by non-ferrous melts. 

Potential applications can be found in various industries, such as special ceramics, foundry, automotive (cylinder liners, port liner, friction), low-pressure-casting and the production of light metals/alloys.     

Our standard grades are available in different particle size distributions, e.g. 0-10 μm, 0-20 μm and 0-60 μm.

Our Anti-Corrosion Paints shall be applied for protection against corrosion on the metal backplate of disc brake pads after the full production process of the pads is finished.

These paints consist of lacquer and hardener, which need to be mixed together just before application. 

A single-layer of paint is sufficient and can be applied by air-mix or pneumatic spraying. The standard color is black.

Antimony Trisulfide (Sb₂S₃) is refined from the natural crystalline minerals stibnite and meta-stibnite. Our Antimony Trisulfide standard grades are available with antimony contents between 65% and 70%. 

It is widely used as a lubricant for brake linings, brake pads and clutch facings and improves their friction stability. 

It is also used as a fuel source to increase the sensitivity of pyrotechnic flash powder, in the production of ruby-colored glass, in plastics as a flame retardant and for the production of semiconductors.

Baryte is a mineral consisting mainly of barium sulfate (BaSO₄). 

We offer natural Barytes as well as precipitated grades.

The Baryte group consists of natural barium sulfate, celestine, anglesite and anhydrite. Baryte itself is generally white or colorless, and is the main source of barium. 

We are able to supply high quality Barytes. Beside standard qualities we can offer also snow white precipitated grades with different sieve analyses. 

All of our Barytes show the following advantages compared to many other Barytes: 

• a low SiO₂ content and
• an extremely low content of heavy metals.

For friction materials "close-cuts" are available, i.e. grades with a reduced content of fines or specified particle size distributions.

The main application is for drilling purposes and also as heavy filler with a density of approx. 4.5 g/cm³ for paints, lacquers, other coatings and many more products. 

Due to its low Mohs hardness (3-3.5) it is giving good lubrication at room temperature. 

Bentonite is a volcanic ash/clay consisting mainly of montmorillonite. Though there are different types, depending on the dominant element (either Al, Ca, K, or Na) we offer the most requested sodium (Na) type only. 

The main application is drilling mud, but it has multiple uses in different industries and also as water adsorbent in agriculture. Dry soil, such as deserts or pure sand, can be used for agricultural crop-growing due to the high water adsorption of the Bentonite, which hinders a fast drying-out of the soil. 

Further uses are e.g. in binders, cosmetics, foundry sand, paints, and coatings.

We offer both DiCalcium Phosphate as well as TriCalcium Phosphate.

• DiCalcium Phosphate

DiCalcium Phosphate is applied as a food supplement for non-ruminant animals.

• TriCalcium Phosphate

This is a natural, white product. For the production of TriCalcium Phosphate only fresh bones approved by the National Inspection Service for Livestock and Meat are used. TriCalcium Phosphate is obtained from crushed, degreased and degelatinized bone chips and calcined at a temperature of 1,100°C. TriCalcium Phosphate is free from organic material, chemically inert and has been obtained from Bone Ash by a special milling and sifting procedure.

TriCalcium Phosphate is used in the non-ferrous casting industry to protect the equipment, e.g. launders for mould coating and as a release agent. In the friction materials industry, it acts as mild abrasive and functional filler, as well as mild anti-corrosive.

Hexagonal Boron Nitride (hBN) has a very good thermal conductivity, good electric insulation, and also a good thermal shock resistance. These properties make it suitable for use in ceramic materials, coming from - for example - a hot pressing process. The material withstands temperatures of up to 2,000°C in non-oxidizing atmospheres and up to approximately 750°C in oxidizing atmospheres. Hexagonal Boron Nitride is not wetted by most molten metals; this is of advantage for some refractory materials in casting processes.

Moreover, Hexagonal Boron Nitride has a low coefficient of friction, so that it is part of some lubricant compositions; it is also called “white graphite” because of a similar crystalline structure.

Brass is an alloy made of copper and zinc in various compositions to create different types of Brass. Common compositions offered by Alroko are 57-61% Cu plus 36-40% Zn.

Brass has an anisotropic microstructure and consequently exhibits anisotropic mechanical behavior and increased thermal diffusivity when used in friction materials during the braking. Surface analyses show that the contact area is very effective at trapping third bodies and developing secondary plateaus, which provide good conditions for stabilizing friction to a high degree, even at high temperatures.

Brass may include small proportions of a range of other elements. It is used as a high temperature lubricant and has higher malleability than bronze or zinc. The relatively low melting point of brass (900°C-940°C), depending on composition and its flow characteristics make it a relatively easy material to form. By varying the proportions of copper and zinc, the properties of the Brass can be changed, allowing hard and soft brasses. Aluminium makes Brass stronger and more oxidation-resistant. Aluminium also causes a highly beneficial hard layer of aluminium oxide to be formed on the surface that is thin and self-healing. Alloying e.g. with iron, aluminium, silicon and manganese make Brass more wear resistant. 

Brass Powders offered by Alroko are produced with good control of particle size distribution and with good batch to batch reproducibility. Irregular Brass Powders are produced by water atomization and available in a range of particle sizes. The main applications for atomized Brass Powders are friction materials, sintered metal parts, fillers, cold casting and cold metal sprays. 

Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin. Bronze may include small proportions of a range of other elements. 

A standard alloy contains approx. 89% copper and 9% tin. Special alloys and the respective particle size distributions are part of the individual specification and are ensured through effective process and quality control.

Alloying and atomization of copper and tin in air produces irregularly shaped Bronze Powder. Deoxidizing components (e.g. phosphorus) can be added to produce powders with light gloss, e.g. those needed in filter materials.

Bronze Powders are manufactured by pulverizing the alloy into flakes as it is flattened by impact from falling stamps into a stamp mill. The pulverized powder fragments are then sorted based on particle size and polished to prepare the final product.

Calcium Hydroxide is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Ca(OH)₂. It is a colorless crystal or white powder; when calcium oxide (called lime or quicklime) is slaked with water it reacts to Calcium Hydroxide in an exothermic reaction. It can also be created by mixing an aqueous solution of calcium chloride and an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide.

An alternative name for Calcium Hydroxide is caustic lime, or Hydrated Lime. If heated, Calcium Hydroxide decomposes into calcium oxide and water.

Applications:

Because of its low toxicity and mild basic properties, Calcium Hydroxide has various uses, such as:

As reagent

• in the tanning industry for neutralization of extra acid,
• in the petroleum refining industry for the manufacture of additives to oils,
• in water/sewage treatment as flocculant,
• in the chemical industry for manufacture of calcium stearate,
• in the food industry for processing water (for alcoholic and soft drinks) and
• for clearing a brine of carbonates of calcium and magnesium in the manufacture of salt for food and pharmacopoeia.

As filler

• in the petrochemical industry for manufacturing solid oil of various types,
• in the production of brake pads,
• in the manufacture of ebonite,
• for preparation of dry mixes for painting and decorating,
• in manufacturing mixes for pesticides, and as
• a dressing in paste form used for anti-microbial effect during a dental root canal procedure.

We supply coarse milled, high-quality fibrillated Cellulose Fibers, gained from replenishable raw materials. All of our different Cellulose Fiber grades show good dispersion characteristics. They show a high level of thixotropy and improved physical properties in many applications, such as

• thickeners,
• absorbents and diluents or
• as a carrier and filler in manifold application fields, e.g. additives for paper/board/tissue production, plastic industry (thermo-/duroplastics & elastomeres), glues, technical ceramics and friction materials.

Chromite is a dark brown or gray to black color high specific gravity mineral with a metallic to submetallic luster. It is composed of chromium, iron, and oxygen (FeCr₂O₄); the hardness of Chromite is 5.5 Mohs, the density is 4.3 g/cm³, the melting point about 1,535°C. Chromite has not only a low thermal expansion rate but also offers a good thermal shock resistance.

Chromite is used as a functional filler and mild abrasive in the friction materials industry. Due to its properties, it is one of the most efficient friction performance modifiers for increasing the friction coefficient, both at low and high temperatures.  

Chromite is also important because it is the only economic ore of chromium, an essential element for a wide variety of metal, chemical, and composite products. Many other minerals contain chromium, but none of them are found in deposits that can be economically mined to produce chromium.

We offer Chromium (III)-oxide in powder form, also called “Chromium Oxide, green”. This product, which is nearly pure Cr₂O₃, is the most stable green pigment known. It is used as pigment for coloring many products, e.g. coatings, roofing granules, cements, plasters and as a fine powder for polishing. 

In friction materials it is either used to color the friction mix, or as a mild abrasive.

The density is 5.2 g/cm³, the melting point 2,435°C. 

This natural powder is available in different particle size distributions. The advantages of Coconut Shell Powder compared to other wood pulps/powders are the extremely low density and excellent binding properties with phenolic resin. 

In friction material formulations this product provides an increased elasticity of the phenolic resin. It also makes the surface of the pad more porous, as the Coconut Shell Powder burns out during scorching and/or braking, which in turn usually leads to a noise reduction.

Copper is used in friction materials due to its high thermal conductivity and its support in creating and maintaining a stable transfer layer between the friction material and the opposite material (usually brake pad and brake disc). Wear and noise values are reduced substantially.

We offer both Copper Fibers and Copper Powders; electrolytic Copper Powders can be supplied as well. Powder/fiber morphology depend on the production process; fibers can be cut from wires or shaved from blocks (swarfs), powders can have various shapes.

Copper Powders are also used in carbon brushes and many more applications.

Copper (II)-oxide, also called “Copper Oxide, black” is partly an amorphous and also crystalline powder, insoluble in water and has a purity of >99.0%. It is often used as an anti-fouling agent in coatings and can also be used as a heat collector in solar cells.

The use in friction materials is for lubrication at high temperatures (melting point 1,326°C), as it easily undergoes a reaction to other copper products. The density is approx. 6.3 g/cm³ .

Feldspar is a common rock forming mineral. It is a basic material for a variety of silicate ceramics and porcelains.

We provide special, pure qualities low in iron, manganese, mica and dark spots. Our Potassium and Sodium Feldspars can be delivered in lumps or ground to 200 or 300 mesh (75 resp. 56 µm).

We can provide Fluorspar (also called Fluorite) concentrate or metallurgical grade Fluorspar in different particle size distributions and purities. Even high-purity grades with CaF₂ ≥ 99% are available. 

It is the mineral form of calcium fluoride (CaF₂), which is mainly used as flux for smelting, the production of glasses and enamels, and as friction stabilizer as well lubricant (depending on the formulation) in friction materials. 

We offer both Natural as well as Synthetic Graphites.

Natural Graphites are available in flake and needle form. The minimum carbon content can be fixed anywhere between 75% and 99.5%.  

Thermal conductivity: 8-17 W/mK (at 20°C)
Density:  2.1-2.3 g/cm³

Many different particle size distributions are available.

Synthetic Graphites are made from new pure electrodes with an extremely low SiO₂ level and a sulfur content of less than 0.05%. 
The carbon content can be fixed either at min. 98% or min. 99%.

Thermal conductivity: 40-130 W/mK (at 20°C)
Density:  2.1-2.3 g/cm³

Many different particle size distributions are available, but the most common grades of Synthetic Graphite are:

• Grade A:  100%  < 0.5 mm
• Grade B:  100%  < 2.0 mm

Both Natural as well as Synthetic Graphites are mainly used for their lubricity, e.g. in: friction materials, solid lubricants, carbon brushes, pencils, crucibles, chemical insulation, electrodes.

Hematite (Fe₂O₃) is used as a mild abrasive in friction materials (Mohs hardness 5.5-6.5) and as a red pigment for the underlayer of disc brake pads. Furthermore, it can be used to improve the thermal and electrical conductivity of the friction material, the latter being helpful in case the brake pads run through a corona-style powder coating process (especially in case of NAO formulations).

We offer a quality with an extremely low heavy metal content and high whiteness. Adding it to friction materials results in increased pH values and therefore prevents (natural) corrosion. Furthermore Hydrated Lime releases crystal water; please see the below figures as a general indication:

• at 200°C about 0.6%
• at 300°C about 0.8%
• at 400°C about 8.0%
• at 500°C about 22.6%

Iron Oxides are durable products that are widely used in pigments, coatings or paints to produce a range of colors. 

In the friction materials industry the most common application is as non-functional pigments to change the color of underlayers or the friction material itself. 

Magnetite (Fe₃O₄) is a key component in NAO/organic formulations, acting as mild abrasive and supporting corona-style powder coating. 

Alroko supplies specific Iron Oxide grades that are very popular in both NAO/organic formulations and low-steel formulations. Natural and synthetic grades are available in many different particle size distributions. 

Iron Powders have a large number of different applications in various industries. Most notably among them are the foundry/steel industry and for sintered products in the powder metallurgy.

In the friction materials industry, Iron Powders are main constituents in low-steel and semi-met formulations, where they act as mid-level abrasives and help to improve the heat resistance of the friction material.

There are four common variants: Air/water atomized powders; electrolytic powders; carbon-reduced and hydrogen-reduced powders. Each differing in the method of production and final product properties.

Our key products are carbon- and hydrogen-reduced Sponge Iron Powders.

Iron Sulfide (FeS), similar to most metal sulfides, is used as a lubricant in the friction materials industry, albeit on the lower end of the efficiency spectrum. 

Compared to Pyrite (FeS₂) it is a less stable compound overall with a sulfur content of around 30%.
What makes it attractive to use is the competitive price when compared to most other metal sulfides.

The major application is in the steel and metal fabrication industry as well as other related industries.

Kaolin is a naturally occurring clay mineral, a sheet silicate, which mainly consists of kaolinite (Al₂Si₂O₅(OH₄)). It is also called china clay. It derives from aluminium silicate minerals, mainly weathered feldspar, and therefore contains other minerals such as quartz and mica as well. Depending on the level of these impurities, the character of Kaolin changes. 

Its appearance is in most deposits white and glossy. The hardness is about 2.5 Mohs and it has a soft and flexible touch, i.e. it is not abrasive. 

More than 50% of the world production is used for the production of paper after muddling (washing out) a major part of the SiO₂. 

We offer the mined raw Kaolin type with approx. 70-75% SiO₂. Its main applications are in many different industries, e.g. ceramics and as filler in rubber, plastics, paints etc.

In the friction materials industry, Kaolin is used as low cost filler in both dry and wet mixes. Different particle sizes are available.

Kyanite is an aluminosilicate mineral. It has needle-like crystals with unique properties making it a valuable raw material in refractories, ceramics and other products.  

Kyanite undergoes an irreversible expansion of approx. 10% when heated up to approx. 1,250°C, which is used by refractory and ceramic manufacturers to reduce shrinkage during initial firing. This makes it possible to produce nearly net shaped green bodies and avoids the forming of shrinkage cracks in the ceramic part. 

In friction materials this expansion can compensate fading. The needle-like crystals lend cold "green" strength and abrasion resistance to the end product. 

The hardness in Mohs is 4 in length and 7 in cross direction.

Through our subsidiary Kynol Europa GmbH we can offer a wide range of milled, chopped and staple fibers under the brand name Kynol^®. 

Main characteristics are:

in flame

• high flame resistance, non-melting at any temperature
• minimal smoke, nearly no shrinkage
• no toxic gases are released (no HCN, halogens, etc.)
• retention of textile integrity, no embrittlement or breakage

and in general

• outstanding resistance to acids, solvents, bleaches, fuels, other chemicals and steam, good hydrolysis resistance
• excellent thermal and electrical insulation
• good moisture regain (6%) and soft hand; comfortable in wear and use 
• low weight (specific gravity 1.27 g/cm³)
• not aggressive to processing equipment and tools

For more details, please see the website of our subsidiary: www.kynol.de

We can supply (unburnt) lime products in different particle sizes as filler for various applications/industries, e.g. concrete, also bituminous in road construction, fodder, fertilizers and flue gas desulfurization.

Also calcined Limestone is available. 

We offer different qualities of natural (from processing the mineral brucite) and synthetic Magnesium Hydroxide - also high purity grades, which are suitable for use in pharmaceutical and food applications. 

The product is generally used in various industrial applications, e.g. as mineral flame retardant in the construction and electronic industry, technical ceramics, enamel production, water treatment, flue gas treatment and in agricultural applications. The high purity grades can also be used as raw materials for chemical processes with low residual heavy metal requirements.

Magnesium Oxide is one of the main products used in the friction materials industry to regulate the pH value of a formulation as well as to improve thermal stability of phenolic resins.

Most of the Magnesium Oxides used in friction is derived from a calcination process of Magnesium Carbonate, resulting in a product sometimes also called "caustic calcined Magnesium Oxide". 

Synthetic (or precipitated) Magnesium Oxide is used to a lesser extent, since the overall reactivity tends to be lower than that of the natural material, while being more expensive as well. 

The third type of Magnesium Oxide called Dead Burned Magnesite is not regularly used in friction, since the manufacturing process leaves the material almost inert and non-reactive, which makes it less beneficial for above mentioned purposes. It is therefore only used in such cases where pH regulation is not the reason for using Magnesium Oxide.

Other industries that Magnesium Oxide is used in are floor pavements, heat-resistant kiln furnishings and the feed & food industry.

We can offer a natural black Magnetite of high purity (min. 98.5% Fe₃O₄) with an extremely low content of SiO₂. This material is not chemically treated. The hardness is 5.5 Mohs; various - also micronized - particle size distributions are available.

Main applications: 

• Friction (as mild abrasive and to support corona-style powder coating)
• Magnetic paints 
• Pigments
• VIP (Vacuum Insulation Panels)

Melamine Formaldehyde Resin (MF resin) is usually used as a binder for various applications, like plywood, thermoset plastic masterbatches, friction materials and others. Depending on the application, it can increase scratch and chemical resistance, wet strength and melting point. 

We supply MF resins in powder form, which increases the shelf-life of the product. 

Depending on the grade, a hardener may already be included. Otherwise we offer additional hardeners for the resins to give customers the possibility to adjust curing times according to their process speed. 

The resin can be dissolved in water, usually in ratios from 1:2 to 2:1.

We offer Muscovite and Phlogopite Mica (also coated with organo-silicon compounds), dry- and wet-ground, in different particle size distributions, also micronized. 

Mica is a natural lamellar mineral with several unique physical properties. Its ability to form layers which can be easily split or delaminated due to its crystalline structure results in thin sheets which are chemically inert, elastic, flexible, resilient, insulating and dielectric. It is stable during exposure to high temperatures, light, moisture and electricity.

Muscovite Mica is mainly used as thermal and electrical insulation filler material and by the electrical industry e.g. in capacitors (ideal for high and radio frequencies) and for commutators, whereas Phlogopite Mica can be used in higher temperature applications (up to 900°C), due to its increased thermal stability.

Ground Mica in general can be used in a variety of applications, e.g., as filler for shiny paints and also as pigment extender in the paint industry, various plastics, welding rods, cosmetics, additive to drilling fluids in the well-drilling industry, and as lightweight noise insulation and reinforcing material in the automotive sector. 

In the friction materials industry Mica is used due to its outstanding heat resistance properties.

The rubber processing industry uses Mica mainly as separating agent.

Micaceous Iron Oxide is a mineral with a lamellar structure, offering a high chemical resistance; it is used in anti-corrosion paints for high performance, such as those covering metallic structures, oil platforms and refineries.

It is also used in friction materials where it reduces disc wear, provides a higher friction coefficient and improves noise behavior. Various particle size distributions are available.

A catch-all-term for a variety of products whose common feature is their sphericity. Microspheres are available as solid and hollow products and their main use is in products where adding bulk and improving flow characteristics are helpful to the process; such as super abrasives and paint industry.

We carry products whose main components are SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ in various sizes; spheres made from other components are available on request.

Molybdenum Disulfide is a well established solid lubricant for the use in different lubricant compositions to lower the friction and mechanical wear. We offer purities from 96%-99%, most commonly used is 98.5%. There are three standard particle size ranges between 1 and 30 µm.

We can offer liquid and dry powder Mould Release Agents in highly concentrated qualities.

The liquids are water-soluble, without silicones and can be easily diluted to the desired concentration before application by brush or spray-gun. The agent forms a thin, very resistant film after hardening, which prevents the moulding compound to remain in the mould after pressing/curing. Our Mould Release Agents for demoulding of pressed articles, such as brake pads/linings or clutch facings, work up to approx. 200°C.

For dry Mould Release Agents see Hexagonal Boron Nitride and also Bone Ash, as well as Alumina Papers, which are used as mould release sheets.

NBR (Nitrile Butadiene Rubber) is a functional filler, which increases the compressibility of friction materials and gives a “cushioning” effect - especially in truck pads/blocks. This usually leads to a noise reduction.

Other applications for our NBR are oil-resistant hoses, modification of PVC for better oil resistance, shoe soles and the sealing industry.

We offer fully and partially crosslinked grades, mainly in the particle sizes of 40 mesh (= 425 µm) and 80 mesh (= 180 µm).

Petroleum Coke (Pet Coke) is a carbon-rich solid material that derives from oil refining, and is one type of the group of fuels referred to as cokes. Pet Coke in particular derives from a cracking process - a thermo-based chemical engineering process that splits long chain hydrocarbons of petroleum into shorter chains.

Pet Coke is a material relatively low in cost and high in heat value and carbon content with good chemical stability, making it an efficient and cost-effective fuel for producing metal, brick and related products.

Applications: The main application is as raw material for carbon electrodes and other synthetic carbon products. It is also used in friction materials; sometimes just as a pigment, but it particularly offers good lubricity, resistance to heat and high conductivity. It additionally provides good resistance to chemical attacks and to abrasion.

We can offer various carbon contents and particle size distributions.

Through our subsidiary Kynol Europa GmbH we can offer a wide range of milled, chopped and staple fibers under the brand name Kynol^®. 

Main characteristics are:

in flame

• high flame resistance, non-melting at any temperature
• minimal smoke, nearly no shrinkage
• no toxic gases are released (no HCN, halogens, etc.)
• retention of textile integrity, no embrittlement or breakage

and in general

• outstanding resistance to acids, solvents, bleaches, fuels, other chemicals and steam, good hydrolysis resistance
• excellent thermal and electrical insulation
• good moisture regain (6%) and soft hand; comfortable in wear and use 
• low weight (specific gravity 1.27 g/cm³)
• not aggressive to processing equipment and tools

For more details, please see the website of our subsidiary: www.kynol.de

Phenolic Resins are thermoset resins which are the primary binder used in friction materials formulations and many other applications. The most common products are straight Phenolic Resins which are defined and typically vary by gel time, softening temperature, hexamine content, flow and free phenol, with gel time and flow being the most important characteristics.

Our special modified Phenolic Resins are used for providing specific benefits to the matrix of friction materials that cannot be achieved with a straight resin, such as e.g. a higher temperature stability.

The most common modifications are NBR, epoxy, CNSL, phosphorus, acrylic, silicone and aralkyl (alkyl benzene). 

We offer different color Pigments, mainly based on metal oxides. The advantage of these compounds is their color stability even in outdoor applications. We have Pigments for black, red, yellow, brown, green and blue, which can be used for the production of cement, lime, ceramics, plastics and paints, as well as to color friction material mixes.

We are proud to be the exclusive sales representative of Otsuka Chemicals, Japan, the world’s leading manufacturer of Potassium & Sodium Titanates. Geographical regions fully covered by us are Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Furthermore we are responsible for a large number of customers in North and South America, India and other areas. 

Otsuka offers Potassium & Sodium Titanates under the brand name Terracess, and one specific Potassium Titanate under the brand name TISMO-D.

The Terracess series is fiber-free; it is developed in flake (platelet), spherical or irregular/amorphous shape, as the use of fibers is highly restricted in the European Union. TISMO-D however is a purely fibrous Potassium Titanate, which is still available on request.

The advantages of these Titanates in summary:

• Improve NVH-value, reduction of e.g. "creep groan" and “hill hold” noise in friction materials
• Less fading - stable coefficient of friction μ
• Less corrosion
• Less wear, pad and rotor, in disc brake pads
• Real density 3.3 g/cm³

Types Terracess JP, PM, PS, and TF-S are widely used in Europe and promptly available ex stock Germany. 

We can also provide Sodium Titanates. These are - as of now - less used in friction materials; more information on request.

We offer synthetic as well as natural grades of Pyrite (Iron Disulfide) in different particle size distributions. The sulfur level of the synthetic grades is in the 50-55% range. 

Pyrite is mainly used for the production of sulfur dioxide and therefore subsequently used in the production of sulfuric acid and in the paper industry. In the friction materials industry, it can be used as a lubricant with high economical benefits in comparison to other metal sulfides.

Our virgin and recycled Rubber Powders & Granules are available in different particle size distributions. The recycled products are reprocessed truck and car tyres, which - depending on the grade - have been cryogenically ground in a second step after regular warm grinding.

Rubber Powders are mainly used as functional filler in friction materials. It is a relatively inexpensive material and due to its low specific weight, it is a popular choice to reduce the costs of a formulation (by adding volume with low weight). The usage of Rubber Powder also improves the binding properties and the compressibility in formulations, which can lead to a noise reduction.

Our virgin spray dried NBR has a big variety of applications; we have 8 different grades available. 

Silicon Carbide (SiC), also known as carborundum, is a semiconductor containing silicon and carbon. Grains of Silicon Carbide can be bonded together by sintering to form very hard ceramics that are widely used in applications requiring high endurance, such as brake pads or clutch facings, as well as ceramic plates.

Silicon Carbide is a popular abrasive in modern lapidary due to the durability and low cost of the material. In manufacturing it is used for its hardness in abrasive machining processes such as grinding, honing, water-jet cutting and sandblasting. It is also used for high performance "ceramic" brake discs, as it is able to withstand extreme temperatures.

We can supply green and black Silicon Carbide.

Our synthetic Sintered Mullite is extremely even in quality, especially compared to fused mullites. It is used for all kinds of friction material formulations with great success already. 

For light vehicle disc brake pads particularly the grade K0 (0-0.1 mm) is used. For a higher coefficient of friction, such as in commercial vehicle brake pads and blocks or sintered friction materials, the coarser grade K1 (0-0.5 mm) is mainly used.

Our customers report as follows:

• stabilizes the coefficent of friction μ
• improves the thermo shock resistance
• swelling of the friction material is reduced
• improves performing in corrosive environment

These advantages are mainly caused by the interlocked crystallites (in the μm range) of the mullite. The Mohs hardness is in the range of 6-7. The quantity in the formulation can vary between 2-8%, depending on the requested coefficent of friction. The melting temperature is >1,850°C.

Due to the homogeneous phase constitution and a very low amount of impurities this material offers considerable advantages compared to all other (fused) mullites. Sintered Mullite is also used for different types of ceramics.

Please see Potassium & Sodium Titanate for more details.

Steel Fibers are widely used in low-steel and semi-met friction materials formulations; in these they support the stability of the friction coefficient µ, the thermal conductivity, and a good heat dissipation in the brake pad compound. 

We also offer Stainless Steel Fibers, which show better corrosion resistance.  

A widely used product which finds its application mainly in cosmetics, plastics and pharmaceuticals to name a few, where it is mainly used as a lubricant and filler.

In the friction materials industry, these features make Talc an excellent functional filler that supports wear reduction in some formulations.

We can offer a number of high purity Talc grades without any detectable amounts of asbestos type minerals. Various particle sizes are available. Talc is also used as a raw material for silicate ceramics.

Tin Sulfide is a chemical compound of Tin and Sulfur. The chemical formula is SnS. Tin Sulfide is a brown-black solid material and its crystal structure is orthorhombic. The density is 5.22 g/cm³ and the melting point is at 880°C. Tin Sulfide is insoluble in water, but soluble in hydrochloric acid. 

We are only able to offer SnS with a high purity of >99%.

This is a natural, white product. For the production of TriCalcium Phosphate only fresh bones approved by the National Inspection Service for Livestock and Meat are used. TriCalcium Phosphate is obtained from crushed, degreased and degelatinized bone chips and calcined at a temperature of 1,100°C. TriCalcium Phosphate is free from organic material, chemically inert and has been obtained from Bone Ash by a special milling and sifting procedure.

TriCalcium Phosphate is used in the non-ferrous casting industry to protect the equipment, e.g. launders for mould coating and as a release agent. In the friction materials industry, it acts as mild abrasive and functional filler, as well as mild anti-corrosive.

Tungsten Carbide is a product commonplace in the mining and machining industry where it is used for operations that require a high hardness and temperature resistance, such as rock drills and cutting tools. Other uses are in surgical instruments and jewellery.

With hardness akin to that of corundum (alpha Al₂O₃), there are not a lot of materials that are more abrasive than it. Still the use in friction materials is comparatively minor due to the price level, i.e. it is mostly used in applications where receiving extra bite through the use of Tungsten Carbide is absolutely essential.

Tungsten Disulfide is a high performance solid lubricant with superior chemical and physical properties; it is one of the most lubricious materials known in science. 

Additionally, Tungsten Disulfide is very stable at high temperatures and under high pressure; it offers temperature resistance from approx. -270°C to 650°C in normal atmosphere and from approx. -188°C to 1,316°C in vacuum. Tungsten Disulfide is an additive in various high performance lubricants such as greases, oils or lubricant varnishes. It is also used in high performance friction materials.

We can supply Tungsten Disulfide grades with different particle size distributions including nano.

We offer high purity grades of blue and yellow Tungsten Oxides with low heavy metal/impurity content. Blue and yellow Tungsten Oxides are predominately important for the production of tungsten metal powders used in hardmetals and lamp/heating wires or for various coating applications, but also to produce Tungsten Carbide. 

We can provide different qualities suitable for various applications (carbide grade and also milled or wire grade).

We supply crystalline Tungsten Powders with a high purity of 99.9%, available in different particle size distributions. These powders are mainly used for the production of oil & gas exploration tools, heavy metal products and alloys for the electronics, medical and aviation industry.

We are also able to provide different heavy metal alloys and superalloys, containing tungsten for the use in aerospace, energy and automotive applications and for radiation shielding.

Vermiculite is a mineral formed of certain basaltic minerals, essentially by hydrated aluminium and magnesium silicates, somewhat similar to Mica.

Vermiculite is a raw material used in friction materials due to its low abrasiveness, high thermal resistance, incombustibility and low chemical reactivity.

It is a safe alternative to replace asbestos. It can be used for the production of many different insulations, e.g. in exhausts and joints; and also as functional filler in paints. Another important application is in filters for many kinds of liquids. 

We have Crude and also Exfoliated Vermiculite qualities in different particle size distributions.

Wollastonite is a natural fibrous calcium silicate (CaSiO₃), which is used for reinforcement of composite materials, such as e.g. friction materials, ceramics, plastics and paints. It also helps to modify the friction level of brake pads and linings. 

Wollastonite is insoluble in water, diluted acids as well as hot concentrated sulfuric acid, and offers a high thermal stability. Compared with other fillers it has a relatively high hardness on the Mohs scale (4.5-5) and - depending on the purity - a density between 2.8g/cm³-3.1g/cm³.

We supply a very fine quality which is used to inhibit corrosion and to reduce flammability in paints, lacquers, friction materials, carbon brushes and many more applications.

Zirconium Dioxide is a high temperature stable, mostly non-reactive material, which has its main use in the ceramics industry, where it can be typically found as a compound stabilized with e.g. yttria or calcium oxide. Further uses are in insulations as well as glass manufacturing.

In the friction materials industry, it is used as a friction stabilizer at high temperatures with added abrasive properties.

All of our grades are custom made; low radioactivity grades are also available.

A natural, mined material, which characteristics include high temperature stability as well as corrosion resistance to alkali materials and a certain abrasiveness. Its main uses include e.g. refractory products, ceramics and ceramic glazes as well as friction materials.

In the latter application, it serves as a mid-tier abrasive and friction stabilizer at higher temperatures.

Various particle size distributions are available.