Superior wear resistance and friction stability in brake materials via triple-boron alloying

This study presents the development of environmentally friendly, sustainable alternative brake friction materials reinforced with mechanically alloyed (M.A.) boron-based additives, including a novel combination of boron oxide, borax, and colemanite. Pin-on-disc tests were conducted under dry sliding at 6.7 m/s with varying normal loads (322.58, 483.87, and 645.16 N) under constant and variable temperature conditions to evaluate their tribological behavior. The 10% triple-boron M.A. (BTMA) reinforced samples exhibited the lowest specific wear rates and maintained stable friction coefficients, outperforming conventional commercial counterparts. Surface morphology and phase composition were analyzed using SEM, EDS, and XRD techniques, revealing robust wear resistance mechanisms and the formation of protective tribolayers. These findings highlight the potential of M.A. boron systems as a high-performance and sustainable alternative to conventional and boron carbide-based brake materials.