Ferodo: advanced technology for environmentally friendly braking

In 2014, the winner of the "World Automotive Components" (IAC) award in the category "Brake Pads" was the Ferodo brand. The majority of the award's expert council voted for the Ferodo brand, known for its high-quality, innovative products.

Ferodo is the premium brand of brake system components, part of the Federal-Mogul Powertrain portfolio. One of the latest and internationally recognized achievements of Ferodo are Eco-Friction brake pads, the world's first pads with low or zero copper content. The company is proud to say that 150 engineers and research centers participated in the creation of Eco-Friction brake pads, in the friction mixture of which 25 different materials are used. The development of low or zero copper brake pads was the result of five years of research and testing.

Copper particles are formed when standard pads are worn and have a negative effect on the oxygen content of fresh water. The copper content in the friction material of standard pads can be as high as 20%. Copper can be a major component that provides good braking performance.

It is known that copper is the main component of friction materials for pads, it reduces pad and disc wear, reduces noise and vibration, and increases the stability of braking performance. However, by 2025, copper content in brake pads will be regulated and may even be banned due to the negative impact of this material on the environment. Copper cannot be replaced by any single material. Brake pad friction materials contain an average of 20 to 30 different materials, each with its own characteristics. Ferodo Eco-Friction uses various metal sulfides, minerals, abrasives, fibers, ceramic particles and various types of graphite to achieve wear and friction performance similar to materials containing copper.

The development of Eco-Friction pads was made possible by the use of an innovative "fingerprint" tribological method. This process allowed the developers to create data sets for each of the materials used to make the brake pads. From this information the company evaluated 1,500 raw materials and found alternative materials with similar friction and wear characteristics at the required operating temperature range.

The copper-free Eco-Friction pads are being installed on the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class as original equipment. Concurrently with the delivery of the components to the assembly line, they are also being supplied to the aftermarket.

The Ferodo brand is known all over the world as the brand of high quality and reliable components for the original equipment market and the aftermarket. Seventeen technology centers located around the world are working on the creation of innovations under the Ferodo brand. The company has already issued thousands of patents as it continues to develop new technologies for greener engines, increased safety and comfort.