IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

International Journal of Engineering and Modern Technology (IJEMT )

E-ISSN 2504-8848
P-ISSN 2695-2149
VOL. 11 NO. 2 2025
DOI: 10.56201/ijemt.vol.11.no2.

---

Plantain Peels as a Friction Material in Brake Pad Production

Iloabachie ICC, Chiegwu M A, Chime AC, Ikpeama LC

---

Abstract

This work studied the suitability of plantain peels as a friction material in the development of a brake pad. Ripe plantain peels used in this work was domestically sourced, washed, oven dried at a temperature of about 60oC. The dried plantain peels was pulverized using a locally made pulverizing machine then, sieved using a set of sieves arranged in descending order of fineness to obtain uniform particle size and carbonized in heat treatment furnace. The brake pad composite was produced by varying the composition of powdered plantain peels in the order 5wt. %, 10 wt. %, 15wt. %, 20 wt. % and 25 wt. % in Gum-Arabic resin. The formulated brake pad composite was poured into a wooden mould 50 mm × 50 mm × 8 mm, placed in a hot platen press at temperature of about 180oC, at a molding pressure of about 15MPa and a curing time of 5 minutes. Post-heat treatment of the composites was performed in a hot air oven for a period of 4 hours at 180 °C. The produced brake pads were evaluated for hardness, compressive strength, wear rate, co-efficient of friction and flame resistance. The SEM/EDS of the produced brake pad was also examined. The results indicated about 3.41 wear rate at 15wt. % and increasing hardness and compressive strength with increase in weight percent of the plantain peels. 0.3 to 0.4 coefficient of friction and improved flame resistance due to carbonization of the plantain peels were also observed. The SEM/EDS micrograph revealed the brake pad as mixture. These results showed that carbonized powdered plantain peels can be used a friction material to develop brake pad.

keywords:

plantain peels, hardness, wear rate, flame resistance, co-efficient of friction,

---

References:

Abutu, J., Lawal, .S.A., Ndaliman, .M.B., Lafia Araga, .R.A. (2018). An Overview of Brake Pad
Production Using Non–Hazardous Reinforcement Materials. ACTA TECHNICA
CORVINIENSIS Bulletin of Engineering Tome XI. PP 143-155.
Acharya S. K., & Samantrai S. P. (2012). The Friction and Wear behaviour of Modified Rice Husk
filled Epoxy Composite. International Journal of Scientific and Engineering Research.
3(6), 180–184.
Adebisi, A.A. and Maleque, M.A. and Shah, Q.H. (2011). Surface Temperature Distribution in a
Composite Brake Rotor, International Journal of Mechanical and Materials Engineering 6
(3): 356-361.
Aigbodion, V.S., Akadike, U., Hassan, S.B., Asuke, F., Agunsoye, J.O. (2010). Development of
Asbestos – Free Brake Pad Using Bagasse. Tribol. Ind. 32 (1), 45–50.
Adeyemi, I. O., Nuhu, A. A., Thankgod, E. B. (2016). Development of Asbestos-Free Automotive
Brake Pad Using Ternary Agro-Waste Fillers. Journal of Multidisciplinary Engineering
Science and Technology (JMEST) 3 (7) 5307-5323.
Bashar, D.A, Madakson P. B, Manji J. (2012). Material Selection and Production of a Cold-
Worked Composite Brake Pad, World J of Engineering and Pure and Applied Sci.; 2 (3):92.
Bono, S.G., Dekyrger, W.J., (1990). Auto Technology, Theory and Service, 2nd ed. DELMAR
Publishers, New York, 45–48.
Cronauer, S.S., Krikorian, A.D. (2012). "Banana (Musa spp.)". In Y.P.S. Bajaj (ed.). Trees I.
Biotechnology in Agriculture and Forestry. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 233.
ISBN 9783642705762.
Dagwa, I.M. and Ibhadode, A.O.A, (2005). Design and Manufacture of Experimental Brake Pad
Test Rig Nigerian Journal of Engineering Research and Development , Basade Publishing
Press Ondo, Nigeria, vol. 4(3). 15-24.
Dagwa I. M., & Ibhadode A. O. A. (2008). The Development of Asbestos–Free Friction Pad
Material from Palm Kernel Shell. Journal of the Braz. Soc. of Mech. Science and
Engineering, 2 (154).
Deepika, K., Bhaskar, R. C., & Ramana, R. D. (2013). Fabrication and Performance Evaluation of
a Composite Material for Wear Resistance Application. International Journal of
Engineering Science and Innovative Technology. (2)6.
Fono–Tamo,R. S., & Koya, O. A. (2013). Evaluation of Mechanical properties of Friction Pad
developed from Agricultural Waste. International Journal of Advancements in Research &
Technology. 2(154), 2278–7763.
Iloabachie I. C. (2018). Development of Coconut Shell Reinforced Polyester Composite for
Industrial Application. M.ENG. Thesis, Dept of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
Iloabachie I.C., Atuanya C.U., Ogbu C.C. (2023). Optimization Analysis of Hardness Test for
Powdered Pentaclethra Macrophylla Pod /Bio-Epoxy Resin Based Brake Pad Composite
Using Central Composite Design.
Leman, Z., Sapuan, S.M. Saifol, A.M. Maleque, M.A. and Ahmad, M.M. (2008). Moisture
absorption behaviour of sugar palm fibre reinforced epoxy composites’ Short
Communication, International Journal of Materials and Design 29 (8): 1666-1670.
Maleque, M. and Dyuti, S. (2010). Materials selection of a bicycle frame using cost per unit
property and digital logic methods. International Journal of Mechanical and Materials
Engineering 5 (1): 95-100.
Iloabachie, I.C.C., Ezema I.C, Onyia C. N, Chime, A.C. (2019). Effect of Carbonization and
Particle Size on the Impact Strength and Water Absorption Properties of Coconut Shell
/Polyester Composite. International Research Journal of Advanced Engineering and
Science. Volume 4, Issue 2, pp. 438-441.
Maleque, M.A., Atiqah, A., Talib, R.J. and Zahurin H. (2012). New Natural Fibre Reinforced
Aluminium Composite for Automotive Brake Pad. International Journal of Mechanical
and Materials Engineering; 7, (2), 166-170.
Iloabachie, .I.C.C, Obiorah, S. M, Ezema, I.C, Henry, V.I, Chime, O.H. (2017). Effects of
Carbonization on the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Coconut Shell Particle
Reinforced Polyester Composite. International Journal of Research in Advanced
Engineering and Technology. Volume 3; Issue 1; Page No. 62-69
Morshed, M. M. & Haseeb, A.S.M.A. (2004). Physical and Chemical Characteristics of
Commercially Available Brake Shoe Lining Materials: A Comparative Study, Journal of
Materials Processing Technology, 155–156, pp. 1422–1427.
Okareh, O.T., Adeolu, A.T., Adepoju, O.T. (2015). Proximate and Mineral Composition of
Plantain (Musa Paradisiaca) Wastes Flour; A Potential Nutrients Source in the Formulation
of Animal Feeds. African Journal of Food Science and Technology 6(2) pp. 53-57.
Edokpia, R. O., Aigbodion, V. S., Obiorah, O. B., Atuanya, C. U. (2014). Evaluation of the
Properties of Eco-friendly Brake Pad Using Egg Shell Particles–Gum Arabic. Science
Direct®, Elsevier B.V. DOI: 10.1016/j.rinp.06.003.
Oladiji, A.T., Idoko, A.S., Abodunrin, T.P., Yakubu, M.T. (2010). Studies on the Physicochemical
Properties and Fatty Acid Composition of the Oil from Ripe Plantain Peel (Musa
paradisiaca). African Scientist, 11(1) 73-78.
Iloabachie I.C.C, Okpe B.O, Nnamani T.O, Chime A.C. (2018). The Effect of Carbonization
Temperatures on Proximate Analysis of Coconut Shell. International Journal of Advanced
Engineering and Technology. Volume 2; Issue 1; Page No. 30-32.
Philips, T.A. (1982). An Agricultural Notebook. Longman, Nigeria p.125. Plantains (Musa spp)
as Determined by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis. Journal of Radioanalytical
and Nuclear Chemistry, 270(2): 407-411.
Rajan T.P.D, Pillai R.M, Pai B.C., Satyanarayana K.G, Rohatgi, P.K (2007): Fabrication and
characterization of Al–7Si–0.35Mg/fly ash metal matrix composites processed by different
stir casting routes, Composites Science and Technology, 67, 3369–3377.
Redhead, J. (1989). M. Boelen (ed.). Utilization of Tropical Foods: Trees. FAO Food and Nutrition
Paper. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. p. 32. ISBN
Valmayor, R.V., Jamaluddin, S.H., Silayoi, B., Kusumo, S., Danh, L.D., Pascua, O.C., Espino,
R.R.C. (2000). "Banana Cultivar Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia". In A.B.
Molina; V.N. Roa (eds.). Advancing Banana and Plantain R&D in Asia and the Pacific.
Bioversity International. p. 55. ISBN 9789719175131.
Vu, T.T. (2005). Modes of Action of Non-pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum Endophytes for Bio-
enhancement of Banana Toward Radopholus similis. Cuvillier Verlag. p. 1. ISBN
Wannik, W.B., Ayob, A.F., Syahrullail, S., Masjuki, H.H. and Ahmad, M.F. (2012). The effect of
Boron Friction Modifier on the Performance of Brake Pads, International Journal of
Mechanical and Materials Engineering 7 (1): 31- 35.
Yawas, D. S., Aku, S. Y., Amaren, S. G. (2016). Morphology and Properties of Periwinkle Shell
Asbestos-Free Brake Pad. Journal of King Saud University – Engineering Sciences 28,
103-109.
Ademoh A. N., Adeyemi I. O. (2015). Development and Evaluation of Maize Husks (Asbestos–
Free) Based Brake Pad. Industrial Engineering Letters –IEL, 5(2), 67–80.
Produced Brake Pad Carbonized Plantain Peels
Ripe Plantain Ripe Plantain Peels
Wear Properties/ COF of Powdered Plantain Peels/ Nigerian Gum-Arabic Resin Based
Brake Pad Composite.
Sample WR
COF
5
3.51
0.34
10
3.44
0.38
15
3.41
0.41
20
3.48
0.44
25
3.52
0.46
Results of the Mechanical Properties of Un-Carbonized Powdered Pentaclethra Macrophylla
Pod/Nigerian Gum-Arabic Resin Based Brake Pad Composite.
Sample
Hardness Compressive
strength
5
42.34
37.28
10
47.18
39.53
15
49.4
44.62
20
43.52
40.34
25
41.22
38.16
Flame Resistance in Gum-Arabic
Sample
FR
5
12.42
10
17.35
15
18.24
20
21
25
23

DOWNLOAD PDF

---

Back