Abstract: A friction material presents a friction generating surface and a bonding surface facing opposite said friction generating surface. The friction material includes structural fibers, friction particles, polyvinyl alcohol fibers, and a resin. A method of forming the friction material is also disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: combining the structural fibers, the friction particles, and the polyvinyl alcohol fibers having an average diameter of less than about 11 ?m, an average length of less than about 4 mm, an average denier of less than about 1, to form a substrate material; impregnating the substrate material with the resin; and curing the resin to form the friction material.

Abstract: A method of preparing a silane-functionalized polymer, the method comprising: preparing a polymerization system including a cis-1,4-polydiene by introducing a lanthanide-based catalyst and a conjugated diene monomer; and adding a hydrosilane compound to the polymerization system including a cis-1,4-polydiene.

Abstract: Provided is a friction material composition that can increase the coefficient of friction and the wear resistance, reduce the compressive deformation rate, and improve the yield upon hot forming, even when being free of copper component or having a small content of copper component. The friction material composition contains: titanate compound powder made of non-fibrous titanate compound particles; barium sulfate powder; and a thermosetting resin, wherein the titanate compound powder has an alkali metal ion dissolution rate of 15.0% by mass or less, the barium sulfate powder has a volume-based 50% cumulative particle diameter (D50) of 0.1 ?m to 20.0 ?m, and a content of copper component is 0.5% by mass or less in terms of copper element in a total amount of 100% by mass of the friction material composition.

Abstract: A tyre for wheels of vehicles, in particular motor vehicles, is described. The tyre has a tread with at least one iso-styrene/trans-butadiene elastomeric copolymer with a styrene content higher than 30% by weight with respect to the total weight of copolymer and a molecular weight higher than 500,000. The tread has improved dynamic-mechanical behaviour at high temperatures, with higher dynamic modulus and hysteresis values, and at the same time better properties at break, optimum elasticity at low temperature and higher abrasion resistance.

Abstract: A rubber composition includes a total of 45 to 65 parts by mass of an aromatic modified terpene resin having a softening point of 100° C. or higher and an oil per 100 parts by mass of a rubber component formed from 20 to 40 mass % of a butadiene rubber and from 60 to 80 mass % of another diene rubber containing an emulsion-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber E-SBR1 having a bonded styrene content of 30 mass % or less and an emulsion-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber E-SBR2 having a bonded styrene content of 35 mass % or greater; an amount of the E-SBR1 being from 85 to 92 mass % per 100 mass % of the emulsion-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber; and a ratio (WB/WT) of the compounded amount of the butadiene rubber (WB) to the compounded amount of the aromatic modified terpene resin (WT) being from 0.5 to 3.0.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method for continuously preparing a modified conjugated diene polymer, a polymer obtained by the method and a rubber composition comprising the same. Advantageously, provided is a method for continuously preparing a modified conjugated diene polymer which has a high molecular weight and exhibits superior processability due to control of molecular weight distribution (polydispersity).

Abstract: [OBJECT] The present invention provides a friction material used for a disc brake pad, which is manufactured by forming a non-asbestos-organic (NAO) friction material composition, which is able to suppress an occurrence of noise just before a vehicle stops, while satisfying laws and regulations relating to the required amount of the content of the copper component. [MEANS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM] The friction material for the disc brake pad is manufactured by forming the NAO friction material composition that is free of the copper component, the friction material composition practically does not include an iron component but includes 15-22 weight % of a non-whisker-like titanate, relative to the total amount of the friction material composition, as a titanate, 15-25 weight % of zirconium oxide with the average particle diameter of 1.0-4.

Abstract: A method for preparing a rubber compound comprising at least one first mixing step in which at least part of a cross-linkable polymer base is mixed at least with a reactive reinforcing filler, a dendrimer functionalized with polar groups adapted to interact with the reactive reinforcing filler and a nucleophile agent; and a subsequent mixing step in which the compound being prepared is mixed with a vulcanization system.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a rubber composition for a tire, capable of achieving both good rolling resistance properties and good wear resistance in a sufficiently compatible manner when the rubber composition is applied to a component member of a tire. Specifically, the present invention provides a rubber composition comprising a rubber composition and hydrated silica, wherein “CTAB” (m2/g) as specific surface area by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide adsorption and “IB” as ink bottle-shaped micropore index, of the hydrated silica, satisfy a specific relationship and “weight loss on ignition” as weight loss when the hydrate silicate is heated at 750° C. for 3 hours and “weight loss on heating” as weight loss when the hydrate silicate is heated at 105° C. for 2 hours satisfy a specific relationship.

Abstract: Provided is a friction material composition comprising: a binder; a fibrous base material; an abrasive material; an inorganic filler; and an organic filler, wherein the friction material composition further comprises: at least one selected from the group consisting of zinc, a cellulose fiber as the fibrous base materials and a flame retardant fiber as the fibrous base materials; an iron-based fiber as the fibrous base material in an specified amount; and an inorganic abrasive material having a Mohs hardness of 8 or higher and a particle size of 1 ?m or larger as the abrasive material in an amount of 1 wt % or less.

Abstract: A friction element for a synchronizing device as well as an apparatus for producing a friction element for a synchronizing device are disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a rubber composition capable of improving a steering stability on a wet road and a low fuel consumption of a tire, and more particularly to a rubber composition comprising 5 to 60 parts by mass of a low-molecular weight aromatic vinyl compound-conjugated diene compound copolymer (B) having an aromatic vinyl compound content of 5 to 80% by mass, a vinyl bond content in a conjugated diene compound portion of 10 to 80% by mass and a weight average molecular weight as measured through a gel permeation chromatography and converted to polystyrene of 5,000 to 200,000 and 20 to 90 parts by mass of a filler (C) based on 100 parts by mass of a rubber component (A) composed of at least one of natural rubber and synthetic diene-based rubbers, in which 50 to 90% by mass of the filler (C) is silica.

Abstract: A positive friction powder additive for modifying existing brake pad or brake shoe formulations to reduce squealing associated with braking. The positive friction powder additive comprises a friction modifier and a solid lubricant and is comprised of talc, barytes, aluminum oxide, and molybdenum disulphide. The positive friction powder additive can be formulated with binders and fillers to prepare a non-metallic brake pad or brake shoe formulation and a non-metallic brake pad or brake shoe. The positive friction powder additive, non-metallic brake pad or brake shoe formulation, and non-metallic brake pad or brake shoe have high and positive frictional characteristic which reduces vibrations and noise by reducing stick/slip oscillations by changing friction from negative to positive.

Abstract: A composition includes a vulcanizable diene rubber, a silica filler, and a metal-functionalized polyisobutylene succinic anhydride derivative. In one embodiment the composition has a reduced amount of oil and may include no oil. A tire tread composition includes, a silica filler, a metal-functionalized polyisobutylene succinic anhydride derivative, a rubber matrix, an optional oil, and one or more components selected from the group consisting of carbon black, vulcanizing agent, vulcanization accelerator, tackifier resin, antioxidant, wax, peptizer, vulcanization retarder, activator, processing additive, plasticizer, pigments, and antiozonant. A method for making the rubber composition and the tire tread is also provided.

Abstract: The friction lining mixture for a friction material for brake and clutch linings, the brake and clutch linings contains metal fibers and/or powder, functional fillers, lubricants and organic compounds for improving the performance capability of the friction pairing metallic and/or alloyed and/or bound tin in an amount of 0.5 to 50.0 percent by weight, preferably 2.0 to 10.0 percent by weight, the copper content in the friction lining mixture being 0.001 to 4.999 percent by weight, preferably 0.001 to 0.499 percent by weight.

Abstract: In a wet friction material, inorganic filler of small particle size is added to fill clearances or space between fibers with the inorganic filler. The inorganic filler is attached to the fibers with each other to reinforce strength of the wet friction material when an impregnated resin is hardened. Absolute specific gravity of the inorganic filler is set at a fixed value so as to make its compounding quantity small, thereby assuring a pore diameter of a friction material substrate without filling pores of the friction material substrate with the inorganic filler.

Abstract: A tire is provided having a component comprised of a rubber composition containing at least one conjugated diene-based elastomer and a combination of rubber reinforcing fillers composed of rubber reinforcing carbon black, precipitated silica and granular functionalized mineral comprised of at least one of aluminum hydrate (ALOOH) and titanium dioxide. The granular mineral is functionalized by pretreatment with a coupling agent. The granular mineral fillers are pretreated with a coupling agent to promote a combination of rubber reinforcing effect for the mineral fillers and to promote a hydrophobation of the mineral fillers to promote their dispersability in the rubber composition.

Abstract: The rubber composites for tire treads include silica; carbon black; and oil constituents, wherein a ratio (A index) of silica contents, carbon black contents, and oil constituents contents is represented by A index=silica contents/(carbon black contents+silica contents+oil constituents contents)?0.8; and a ratio (B index) of a complex elastic modulus E* at 30° C. and a loss tangent tan ? at 60° C. is represented by B index=E*/tan ??120.

Abstract: A tire comprising a rubber composition based on at least an elastomer composite formed by the method of flowing a coagulating mixture of a first elastomer latex comprising a first elastomer and a particulate filler slurry along a conduit; and introducing a second elastomer latex comprising a second elastomer into the flow of the coagulating mixture

Abstract: A mix for a structural component of a tyre, having a cross-linkable polymer base; curing agents; 20-100 phr of a reinforcing filler; and 2-16 phr of a methylene acceptor compound combined with a methylene donor compound. The reinforcing filler is defined by a blend of 20-80% by weight of carbon black classified as N1 or N2, and 80-20% by weight of carbon black classified as N5 or N6.

Abstract: A friction lining made of a fibrous mixture with fillers and resin for a wet clutch. In order to design the friction lining able to withstand the higher torque to be transmitted, it is proposed to admix further filler with a Mohs hardness greater or equal to 9.0 and smaller or equal to 9.5 in addition to the ingredients of aramid fibers, cellulose fibers, phenol resin and amorphous silicon dioxide and first filler.

Abstract: A rubber composition for tire comprises: diene rubber component consisting of diene rubber (s); and multihollow particles amounting 0.3-20 mass parts relative to 100 mass parts of the diene rubber component; and microvoids being distributed in each of the multihollow particles throughout from a vicinity of center portion to a vicinity of surface of the particle; and porosity of the multihollow particles being in a range of 40% to 60%. A pneumatic tire has a tread that is formed of such rubber composition.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire prepared by using a rubber composition prepared by compounding precipitated silica with a rubber component comprising 100 parts by mass of a rubber component (A) comprising at least one of a natural rubber and a synthetic diene base rubber and 5 to 60 parts by mass of an aromatic vinyl compound-diene compound copolymer (B) having a weight average molecular weight of 4,000 to 250,000 which comprises 0 to 80% by mass of the aromatic vinyl compound and in which a vinyl bond content in the parts of the diene compound is 0 to 80% by mass, wherein a cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-adsorbing specific surface area (CTAB) (m2/g) of the precipitated silica and the mode Aac (nm) in diameters of primary aggregates thereof determined by acoustic measurement of particle size distribution satisfy equation (I) shown below: Aac??0.76×(CTAB)+274??(I) and an ignition loss (mass reduction % when heated at 750° C.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a wet friction material which has a high coefficient of friction, has reduced overall thickness change, and excellent heat resistance (resistance to heat spots). In order to accomplish the purpose, the present invention provides a wet friction material prepared by impregnating a base material including a fibrous substance with a thermosetting resin, and then thermally curing it, wherein the aspect ratio of the fibrous substance is 10 or higher, and the fibrous substance is contained in the base material in an amount of 60 to 75 weight %.

Abstract: In order to provide a tire which is excellent in processability and which is excellent as well in a low fuel consumption, abrasion resistance and fracture resistance, assumed is such a constitution that used for a tire member is a rubber composition which contains a modified natural rubber having a polar group in the rubber molecule and precipitated silica, wherein a cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-adsorbing specific surface area (CTAB) (m2/g) of the precipitated silica and the mode Aac in diameters (nm) of primary aggregates thereof determined by acoustic measurement of particle size distribution satisfy an equation: Aac??0.76×(CTAB)+274.

Abstract: A macromolecule includes a functional group including imine functionality bonded to a polymer chain. Where desired, the functional group also can contain additional (e.g., amine and/or silane) functionality. The material can be provided by reacting a polymer including carbonyl functionality with a compound including a primary amino group. The functional group can interact with particulate filler such as, e.g., carbon black and silica.

Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of (i) polymerizing monomer with a coordination catalyst to form a reactive polymer; and (ii) reacting the reactive polymer with a carboxylic or thiocarboxylic ester containing a silylated amino group.

Abstract: A functionalized elastomer defined by the formula where ? includes a polymer chain, ? includes a group 14 element, R1 and R2 each independently include hydrogen, or a monovalent organic group, or a polymer chain, R3 and R4 each independently include a divalent organic group or a covalent bond, R5, R6, R7, R8 and R9 each independently include a monovalent organic group or a hydrogen atom.

Abstract: A tire prepared by using a rubber composition compounded with a modified conjugated diene base polymer obtained by reacting an active site of a conjugated diene base polymer with a hydrocarbyloxysilane compound which may have a functional group to introduce a functional group having high affinity with precipitated silica and precipitated silica in which a cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-adsorbing specific surface area (CTAB) (m2/g) and the mode Aac in diameters (nm) of primary aggregates determined by acoustic measurement of particle size distribution satisfy equation (A) shown below: Aac??0.

Abstract: This invention relates to a rubber composition having excellent workability, fracture characteristics and wear resistance and a low heat buildup and a high storage modulus (G?), and more particularly to a rubber composition comprising not less than 20 parts by mass of a reinforcing filler (B) and 5 to 60 parts by mass of a low-molecular weight aromatic vinyl compound-conjugated diene compound copolymer (C) having an aromatic vinyl compound content of 5 to 80% by mass, a vinyl bond content in a conjugated diene compound portion of 10 to 80% by mass and a weight average molecular weight as measured with a gel permeation chromatography and converted to polystyrene of 5,000 to 300,000 based on 100 parts by mass of a rubber component (A) containing not less than 10% by mass of a modified conjugated diene-based polymer having at least one functional group.

Abstract: The friction lining mixture for a friction material for brake and clutch linings, the brake and clutch linings contains metal fibers and/or powder, functional fillers, lubricants and organic compounds for improving the performance capability of the friction pairing metallic and/or alloyed and/or bound tin in an amount of 0.5 to 50.0 percent by weight, preferably 2.0 to 10.0 percent by weight, the copper content in the friction lining mixture being 0.001 to 4.999 percent by weight, preferably 0.001 to 0.499 percent by weight.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a rubber composition comprising a rubber and particulate kaolin clay as a filler wherein: the kaolin particles have a particle size distribution such that at least about 95% of the particles, relative to the volume of the particles, have a particle diameter less than 3 ?m. The particulate kaolin particles may comprise calcined kaolin chosen from at least one of particulate soak calcined kaolin and particulate flash calcined kaolin. The rubber composition can comprise additional particulate fillers including those chosen from silica, carbon black, and other particulate fillers. Also disclosed herein is a process for producing such a composition, and the method of using a cured form of the composition in a rubber composition, such as a vehicle tire composition.

Abstract: A functionalized elastomer defined by the formula where ? includes a polymer chain, ? includes a group 14 element, R1 and R2 each independently include hydrogen, or a monovalent organic group, or a polymer chain, R3 and R4 each independently include a divalent organic group or a covalent bond, R5, R6, R7, R8 and R9 each independently include a monovalent organic group or a hydrogen atom.

Abstract: Plasticizing system which can be used in particular for plasticizing a diene elastomer composition for tyres, the said plasticizing system comprising, in combination: a plasticizing hydrocarbon resin, the glass transition temperature of which is greater than 0° C.; and a phthalate diester corresponding to the formula (I): in which the R radicals, which are identical or different, represent a hydrocarbon radical. The invention also relates to a rubber composition incorporating the said plasticizing system and also to the use of such a composition in the manufacture of a tyre or of a semi-finished rubber product for tyres, in particular of a tyre tread; such a tread exhibits an improved wet grip without penalizing its wear resistance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire having at least one component of a rubber composition comprised of at least one conjugated diene-based elastomer which contains silica reinforcement together with use of a combination of coupling agents for the silica. The coupling agent combination is comprised of blocked alkoxyorganomercaptosilane and unblocked alkoxyorganomercaptosilane coupling agents. Such tire component may be, for example, a tire tread.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rubber composition that is used for forming a ply having superior processability upon preparation thereof, with a reduced hysteresis loss, a clinch that is capable of achieving both of good physical characteristics, such as rigidity, hardness and mechanical strength, and improvements in processability and a tread that has high rigidity with a small hysteresis loss and is superior in processability upon preparation thereof, while reducing the amount of use of materials derived from petroleum resources, and a pneumatic tire provided with these. The ply, the clinch apex and the tread are made from a rubber composition that has 100 parts by mass of a rubber component composed of a natural rubber and/or a modified natural rubber, and 25 to 80 parts by mass of silica having a BET specific surface area of not more than 150 m2/g, and the pneumatic tire is provided with these.

Abstract: A raw elastomeric composition includes: (a1) from 30 to 90% by weight of a partially hydrogenated vinylarene-conjugated diene random elastomeric copolymer; (a2) from 10 to 70% by weight of one or more diene rubbers; (b) from 10 to 150 phr of silica; (c) from 0.1 to 20 phr of a coupling agent based on silane; (d) from 0.1 to 10 phr of a vulcanization agent; wherein the partially hydrogenated vinylarene-conjugated diene random copolymer has a structure which has nodes statistically distributed in the macromolecule, from which polymeric chains branch out, the bond between the nodes and the branches being a carbon-carbon bond.

Abstract: The present invention has its object to provide a rubber composition that can be used for a tread to supply a tire excellent in low heat build-up property and wet grip performance. The present invention relates to a rubber composition including a rubber component that contains a modified styrene-butadiene rubber in an amount of 5% by weight or more per 100% by weight of the rubber component, the modified styrene-butadiene rubber having, in a main chain thereof, a constitutional unit derived from a specific nitrogen-containing compound; and the rubber composition further including silica in an amount of 10 to 150 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the rubber component.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process of preparing a nanocomposite comprised of an elastomer and at least partially exfoliated, intercalated water-swellable clay, comprising the steps of (A) forming a first blend of water-swelled clay and anionic polymer particle emulsion by blending: (1) an aqueous mixture comprised of water and a multilayered water-swellable clay, exclusive of an intercalant for said clay, wherein said water-swellable clay is comprised of a plurality of stacked platelets with water-expanded galleries between said platelets, wherein said galleries contain naturally occurring cationic ion exchangeable ions therein; and (2) an elastomer latex comprising an elastomer selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic polyisoprene, polybutadiene, and styrene-butadiene rubber; (B) blending with said first blend an aqueous mixture comprised of water and from 1 to 5 percent by weight of a polar polymer selected from the group consisting of hydroxyethylcellulose, carboxym

Abstract: To modify a diene-based rubber whereby the dispersibility of silica and the abrasion resistance or heat buildup resistance are improved. A modified diene-based rubber obtained by adding and reacting, to a diene-based rubber (A), a compound (B) having, in the molecule thereof, a nitroxide free radical stable at an ordinary temperature and in the presence of oxygen, a radical initiator (C) and a radical polymerizable monomer (D) having a functional group in the molecule thereof and a rubber composition and pneumatic tire containing the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides a modified conjugated diene polymer that is prepared by polymerization of a conjugated diene compound using a catalyst containing a lanthanoid rare earth element compound in an organic solvent and then modifying the resulting polymer having an active organic metal site with a modifier, wherein the modification efficiency is not less than 15% and the cis-1,4 bond content in the conjugated diene moiety measured by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy satisfies the relationship (I): cis-1,4 bond content?98.00(%)??(I), or the modification efficiency is not less than 75% and the cis-1,4 bond content in the conjugated diene moiety measured by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy satisfies the relationship (II): 94.00(%)?cis-1,4 bond content<98.00(%)??(II).

Abstract: This invention relates to a rubber composition having excellent workability, fracture characteristics and wear resistance and a low heat buildup and a high storage modulus (G?), and more particularly to a rubber composition comprising not less than 20 parts by mass of a reinforcing filler (B) and 5 to 60 parts by mass of a low-molecular weight aromatic vinyl compound-conjugated diene compound copolymer (C) having an aromatic vinyl compound content of 5 to 80% by mass, a vinyl bond content in a conjugated diene compound portion of 10 to 80% by mass and a weight average molecular weight as measured with a gel permeation chromatography and converted to polystyrene of 5,000 to 300,000 based on 100 parts by mass of a rubber component (A) containing not less than 10% by mass of a modified conjugated diene-based polymer having at least one functional group.

Abstract: The present invention claims that a carbon black with unique morphological properties provides improved carbon black dispersion and improved rubber compound properties, such as improved fatigue life and abrasion resistance. The carbon black of current invention has a ratio of aggregate size HI and particle size HI greater than 1.70, the surface area STSA of 100-180 M2/g and the structure OAN less than 140 cc/100 g.

Abstract: Elastomer compositions and products formed therefrom, the compositions including one or more elastomers and glass microfibers having an average fiber diameter of no more than about 5 ?m and an average length of between about 5 and 200 ?m, wherein the glass microfibers are directionally oriented within the elastomer composition. Alternatively, the average length of the glass microfibers may be between 5 and 100 ?m or in other embodiments, between about 10 and 70 ?m. The elastomer compositions may be used to form products that include a tire tread or a support member within the sidewall of a tire. The glass microfibers may be oriented in, inter alia, a substantially circumferential orientation, a tread thickness orientation or at a 45° orientation in a plane formed between the tread thickness and circumferential orientations or in a sidewall thickness direction.

Abstract: A tyre includes at least one structural element obtained by crosslinking a crosslinkable elastomeric composition including: (a) a crosslinkable elastomeric base comprising at least 10 phr, preferably from 30 phr to 100 phr, of (a1) at least one epoxidized elastomeric polymer including less than 10 mol %, preferably from 0.1 mol % to 5 mol %, of epoxy groups relative to the total number of moles of monomers present in the elastomeric polymer; and (b) from 2 phr to 50 phr, preferably from 5 phr to 30 phr, of at least one layered material. Preferably, the at least one structural element is selected from bead filler, sidewall insert, tread underlayer, and tread base.

Abstract: A friction material for a synchronizer ring comprises (A) a petroleum coke with an ash content of 0.1 mass % to 8 mass % or (B) a pitch coke with an ash content of 0.1 mass % to 8 mass %, more preferably (C) a calcined petroleum coke with an ash content of 0.1 mass % to 1 mass % or (D) a foundry coke with an ash content of 5 mass % to 8 mass %. The friction material is effectively used for a synchronizer ring requiring high coefficient of dynamic friction.

Abstract: A friction material contains a friction adjuster, a binder and an inorganic filler. The friction material further contains randomly shaped rubber chips which contain machining dust derived from friction material, and rubber binding the machining dust. The rubber chips are preferably sized so as to pass through a 16-mesh sieve. Since the friction material contains machining dust of friction materials, it is possible to reduce wastes and the cost of the friction material. Still, the friction material shows sufficient basic properties comparable to conventional friction materials, including environmental friendliness, braking effect, and reduced squeal and other noise.

Abstract: The invention includes select blends of elastomeric compositions of at least one halogenated elastomer and at least one other elastomer to impart certain properties to articles made from those select blends. For example, the at least one halogenated elastomer may be at least one halogenated butyl rubber, at least one halogenated star-branched butyl rubber, or at least one halogenated random copolymer of a C4 to C7 isomonoolefin derived unit, such as an isobutylene derived unit, and at least one other polymerizable unit, such as methylstyrene. The invention also includes methods to improve the brittleness point of articles made from those select blends.

Abstract: There are disclosed a friction material composition which comprises a fibrous material except for asbestos, an inorganic friction regulator, an organic friction regulator and a binder, part of the inorganic friction regulator is ? alumina and ? alumina in combination, a weight ratio of the ? alumina and the ? alumina, ? alumina:? alumina, is in the range of 1:20 to 1:5, and part or whole part of the binder is a silicon-containing phenol resin, and a friction material obtained by molding the friction material composition under heating and pressure.

Abstract: In a friction material, columnar or scaly non-whisker-like alkali metal titanate or non-whisker-like alkali metal•alkaline-earth metal titanate having an average particle diameter in the range of 0.1 to 100 ?m and an aspect ratio of 3 or less and an inorganic porous filler are compounded, and a friction material in which non-whisker-like lithium.potassium titanate having an average particle diameter in the range of 0.1 to 100 ?m and an aspect ratio of 3 or less is compounded.