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 and plant for manufacturing braking elements such as vehicle brake pads. The plant can comprise a first station that applies an adhesive to a first face of a metallic element; a second station that applies to the first face of the metallic element a block of friction material; a checking station that verifies the presence of the adhesive by detecting the gray level of a plurality of points of at least one zone of the first face; and a processing unit that compares the gray level detected for each point with a first threshold value, counts the number of points that have a gray level that satisfies a relationship (which is a function of the threshold value,) and compares such a value with a second threshold value to discard those metallic elements for which the percentage calculated does not correspond to the second threshold value.

Abstract: Method and plant for manufacturing braking elements such as vehicle brake pads. The plant can comprise a first station that applies an adhesive to a first face of a metallic element; a second station that applies to the first face of the metallic element a block of friction material; a checking station that verifies the presence of the adhesive by detecting the gray level of a plurality of points of at least one zone of the first face; and a processing unit that compares the gray level detected for each point with a first threshold value, counts the number of points that have a gray level that satisfies a relationship (which is a function of the threshold value,) and compares such a value with a second threshold value to discard those metallic elements for which the percentage calculated does not correspond to the second threshold value.

Abstract: Method and plant for manufacturing braking elements such as vehicle brake pads. The plant can comprise a first station that applies an adhesive to a first face of a metallic element; a second station that applies to the first face of the metallic element a block of friction material; a checking station that verifies the presence of the adhesive by detecting the gray level of a plurality of points of at least one zone of the first face; and a processing unit that compares the gray level detected for each point with a first threshold value, counts the number of points that have a gray level that satisfies a relationship (which is a function of the threshold value,) and compares such a value with a second threshold value to discard those metallic elements for which the percentage calculated does not correspond to the second threshold value.

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: 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 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 fibres 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: 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 and plant for manufacturing braking elements such as vehicle brake pads. The plant can comprise a first station that applies an adhesive to a first face of a metallic element; a second station that applies to the first face of the metallic element a block of friction material; a checking station that verifies the presence of the adhesive by detecting the gray level of a plurality of points of at least one zone of the first face; and a processing unit that compares the gray level detected for each point with a first threshold value, counts the number of points that have a gray level that satisfies a relationship (which is a function of the threshold value,) and compares such a value with a second threshold value to discard those metallic elements for which the percentage calculated does not correspond to the second threshold value.

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 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 fibres 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: Method and plant for manufacturing braking elements such as vehicle brake pads. The plant can comprise a first station that applies an adhesive to a first face of a metallic element; a second station that applies to the first face of the metallic element a block of friction material; a checking station that verifies the presence of the adhesive by detecting the gray level of a plurality of points of at least one zone of the first face; and a processing unit that compares the gray level detected for each point with a first threshold value, counts the number of points that have a gray level that satisfies a relationship (which is a function of the threshold value) and compares such a value with a second threshold value to discard those metallic elements for which the percentage calculated does not correspond to the second threshold value.

Abstract: A friction element having a friction layer or block made at least in part of a compounded friction material having a homogenous fibrous microstructure, in which the fibrous aspect of the homogenous microstructure appears to be lost up to a magnification of 100×. The friction material is obtained with a mixing step including 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: 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: 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 fibres 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 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: 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 fibres 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.