A comprehensive review on brake pad materials and geometries: Performance, environmental impact, and emerging technologies

Brake pads are an essential component of the vehicle’s braking system, which produces the friction required to halt or reduce the vehicle’s motion. The pad material and the surface area in contact with the rotor greatly influence braking performance. These elements impact vehicle dynamics, brake cooling, wear on braking components, heat dissipation, and frictional force. The wear rate, friction coefficient, thermal stability, longevity, environmental impact, potential health risks, and overall braking performance of various brake pad materials and designs are all examined in this review article. This study also emphasizes the benefits of cutting-edge technologies like nanotechnology, machine learning, and artificial intelligence in the development of innovative brake pad materials.