Low Cost Boron Carbide Ceramic Composites for Aircraft Brake Friction Materials

Boron carbide containing ceramic matrix composites have been demonstrated to have superior heat capacity as well as a desirable friction coefficient suitable for application as the friction material in next generation military and commercial aircraft brake systems. The Phase I effort identified a means whereby the thermal conductivity of the material is dramatically improved, while also reducing fabrication costs. The Phase II effort will balance improved thermal conductivity and lower fabrication costs, while maintaining at least a 15% improvement in energy storage of the brake. This will be accomplished by testing thermal, tribological and mechanical properties and comparing to a finite element model of the combined thermal-mechanical friction wear system. The friction material will also be evaluated on a full-scale aircraft brake dynamometer simulating a range of actual aircraft landing conditions.