Abstract: An asbestos free friction material having at least one of the group consisting of inorganic, organic and metallic fibers, at least one binder, at least one friction modifier or lubricant and at least a filler or abrasive, wherein the binder is almost completely and exclusively inorganic and is constituted almost exclusively or exclusively by a hydrated geopolymer or a blend of hydrated geopolymers.

Abstract: Various braking devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the braking device includes a support element, a block of friction material supported by the support element, at least one piezoceramic sensor supported by the support element and interposed between the block of friction material (and the support element, and a protective element located at the piezoceramic sensor and embedding the latter. The protective element can have one or more layers of resin-based material applied to protect the piezoceramic sensor and direct a predetermined part of the external compression force onto an area of the support element surrounding the piezoceramic sensor. In some embodiments, a signal transduction device is provided and includes at least one piezoceramic sensor supported on a support element and has an integral protective coating having properties of mechanical and temperature resistance.

Abstract: A method and system for powder coating non electrically conductive elements, preferably brake pads. A pre-treatment station is upstream of an electrostatic powder coating deposition station and a baking station for melting and polymerizing the powder coating in order to form a coating layer on a surface to be coated. The pre-treatment station causes the elements to be coated to conduct electrically by uniformly wetting said elements by means of creating poorly mineralized water covalent bonds on at least one surface to be coated, in an amount aimed at producing a measurable weight increase in the non electrically conductive elements, which then causes them to conduct electrically. The water adsorbed and/or deposited is subsequently eliminated within the baking station.

Abstract: A brake element is sensorized by at least one piezoceramic sensor arranged between a metallic support element and a block of friction material of a brake element, the sensor being completely embedded within the block. An electrical voltage signal generated by at least one piezoceramic sensor, without the need for a power supply, is picked up by an electrical circuit integrated into the metallic support element. The electrical voltage signal is processed in the form of equal length of samples per unit of time of the detected signal by successively processing in real time each sample of equal length of time sample of the signal by applying an algorithm. The algorithm is selected from at least one of a sequence of integrations of voltage values in the sample carried out in an interval of time in the order of milliseconds; FFT voltage data sample; and integral of the voltage data sample.

Abstract: Method wherein at least one piezoceramic sensor (15) and an electric circuit (18) to collect an electric signal emitted by the piezoceramic sensor (15) when subjected to a mechanical stress and possibly processing it are made as a unit electrically insulated (118) equipped with at least a branching (119) ending with respective electric contacts (20,21) having connected the at least one piezoelectric sensor (15), where the electric circuit (18) and the at least one sensor (15) are mechanically fixed integral with a first surface (13) of a supporting metal element (11) of a brake pad (1) and branching (119) is formed so as to position the at least one piezoelectric sensor (15) at a predetermined point of the first surface (13).

Abstract: Method for the production of braking elements for vehicles, in particular brake pads, including a die forming step by means of fine and/or traditional shearing of a metal support and a molding step upon the metal support of a block of friction material; the friction material is selected from the group of asbestos free materials, while the metal plate is made of an aluminum alloy selected from the group consisting of aluminum alloys subjected to precipitation hardening (age-hardening alloys) and is made from the fine and/or traditional shearing of a metal sheet when the alloy is in a solubilized state; the alloy, being aged during a friction material baking step, gains its mechanical properties needed for its operation.

Abstract: An asbestos-free friction material includes inorganic and/or organic and/or metallic fibers, at least one binder, at least one friction modifier or lubricant, at least one filler or abrasive and a carbonaceous material constituted by a microstructure. The microstructure is in the form of flakes or scales of micrometric planar dimensions and of nanometric thickness consisting of a substantially pure graphene mono- or multilayers, preferably pre-blended with at least part of the organic binder.

Abstract: A method in which at least one piezoceramic sensor, which converts every mechanical force to which it is subjected into an electrical signal and having a Curie temperature higher than 200° C., is solidarized directly onto the surface of a metal support element of a vehicle braking element, which during use faces a vehicle element to be braked. While in contact with such a surface, an electrical circuit is implemented that picks up and eventually processes the electrical signal, the electrical circuit being connected with a connector integrated with the metal support element. An electrically insulating layer sandwiches the at least one piezoceramic sensor and the electrical circuit, and a block of friction material with an underlying damping layer is formed upon the electrically insulating layer. After forming the block of friction material, the piezoceramic sensor is polarized by applying a predetermined potential difference thereto by means of the connector.

Abstract: Various braking devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the braking device includes a support element, a block of friction material supported by the support element, at least one piezoceramic sensor supported by the support element and interposed between the block of friction material (and the support element, and a protective element located at the piezoceramic sensor and embedding the latter. The protective element can have one or more layers of resin-based material applied to protect the piezoceramic sensor and direct a predetermined part of the external compression force onto an area of the support element surrounding the piezoceramic sensor. In some embodiments, a signal transduction device is provided and includes at least one piezoceramic sensor supported on a support element and has an integral protective coating having properties of mechanical and temperature resistance.

Abstract: Method for manufacturing an asbestos-free friction material having as component materials inorganic and/or organic and/or metallic fibers, at least one organic binder, at least one friction modifier or lubricant and at least a filler or abrasive. The raw components of the friction material are mixed together to obtain a raw mixture which is then molded to obtain a block or layer of friction material. The mixing step includes a first step of hot blending of at least part of the organic binder with at least part of the other components of the friction material by a rolling mill blender that is open to atmospheric pressure at a temperature lower than the polymerization temperature of the organic binder but greater than or equal to its softening temperature, in order to obtain a semifinished solid product. A second step of grinding the semifinished solid product reduces the product to a powder.

Abstract: A friction material, such as those belonging to the NAO or LS classes. The friction material is substantially free from copper and includes non-spherical particles in the form of powders and/or fibers each constituted by a preferably ferrous metallic core and by an at least partial coating of core formed at least partially or totally by tin and/or tin compounds, such as intermetallic Fe—Sn compounds.

Abstract: A method and plant for thermally treating braking elements after a forming step, including a convective heating step at 150-300° C. and a infrared irradiation heating step, immediately in succession one relative to the other. A tunnel convection furnace is crossed by at least a first conveyor belt which translates along a first direction and on an upper face of which the braking elements are placed, is arranged laterally adjacent, with respect to the first direction, to an infrared heating tunnel furnace crossed by a second conveyor belt which translates along a second direction, parallel and opposite to the first one, and on an upper face of which the braking elements are placed. The first conveyor belt is larger than the second conveyor belt, and the braking elements appear in multiple side-by-side rows in a transverse and oblique direction with respect to the first and second directions.

Abstract: A method in which at least one piezoceramic sensor, which converts every mechanical force to which it is subjected into an electrical signal and having a Curie temperature higher than 200° C., is solidarized directly onto the surface of a metal support element of a vehicle braking element, which during use faces a vehicle element to be braked. While in contact with such a surface, an electrical circuit is implemented that picks up and eventually processes the electrical signal, the electrical circuit being connected with a connector integrated with the metal support element. An electrically insulating layer sandwiches the at least one piezoceramic sensor and the electrical circuit, and a block of friction material with an underlying damping layer is formed upon the electrically insulating layer. After forming the block of friction material, the piezoceramic sensor is polarized by applying a predetermined potential difference thereto by means of the connector.

Abstract: An active corrosion protection circuit for a brake disc-pad unit of a motor vehicle includes one of a metal disc and a pad adapted to selectively block the disc. A direct electric voltage source and an electric conductor connectable to the electric voltage source and one of the disc and the pad forms an electric circuit causing a monopolar current flux between the disc and the pad when the pad blocks the disc so that the action of the current is localized in a contact zone between the disc and the pad.

Abstract: A method in which at least one piezoceramic sensor, which converts every mechanical force to which it is subjected into an electrical signal and having a Curie temperature higher than 200° C., is solidarized directly onto the surface of a metal support element of a vehicle braking element, which during use faces a vehicle element to be braked. While in contact with such a surface, an electrical circuit is implemented that picks up and eventually processes the electrical signal, the electrical circuit being connected with a connector integrated with the metal support element. An electrically insulating layer sandwiches the at least one piezoceramic sensor and the electrical circuit, and a block of friction material with an underlying damping layer is formed upon the electrically insulating layer. After forming the block of friction material, the piezoceramic sensor is polarized by applying a predetermined potential difference thereto by means of the connector.