Performance and Potential of Dry Running Vehicle Clutch Systems With Advanced Ceramics as Friction Materials

More than ever, the development process in the field of automotive engineering requires shorter development cycles for a higher range of vehicles. In order to meet the ambitious goals of the automotive industry regarding CO₂ reduction and at the same time increasing the vehicle requirements in view of comfort and dynamics, it is necessary to decrease the drivetrain weight. Parallel, research and development in the field of automotive engineering is e.g. characterized by power upgraded combustion engines and by higher transmission ratios in the drive train. As a result, the rising of the weight specific power should not involve a reduction of the drivetrain reliability and the related increase of the failure probability. These demands lead to the conclusion that lightweight and robust designs have to be applied for all drivetrain components. All these factors affect the dimensioning of today’s clutch systems and step up the demands for future clutch systems. Thus, organic friction facings are getting closer to their limits due to temperature resistance. Within the frame work of the Centre of Excellence in Research CER 483 “High performance sliding and friction systems based on advanced ceramics” one approach is to apply advanced ceramics as friction material for e.g. a dry running motor vehicle clutch using the ceramic specific benefits as wear and temperature resistance combined with lightweight design to fulfill today’s demands.