Federal-Mogul has developed a range of zero-copper and low-copper brake pads using a new tribological fingerprinting process. As companies work to introduce alternative materials ahead of legal deadlines, Federal-Mogul's Eco-Friction is already achieving excellent results in customer trials.

Copper is a key ingredient in high performance brake pad formulations, limiting pad and rotor wear, noise and judder and contributing to friction stability over a wide range of operating temperatures. The presence of copper in brake pads, however, will be regulated and may eventually be eliminated due to concerns regarding its environmental impact.

"Federal-Mogul has succeeded in formulating low- and zero-copper  Low-Steel and NAO brake materials for our Eco-Friction range that provide outstanding braking performance and confidence using tribological fingerprinting," says Ramzi Hermiz, Federal-Mogul's senior vice president, Vehicle Safety and Protection. "This process has given us deeper insight into the complex chemical characteristics and relationships within a brake pad's friction material and has reduced the time required to identify optimum solutions. The approach means we have the tools to eliminate copper more efficiently and to deliver custom solutions more quickly."