ENVIROMENT FRIENDLY BRAKE PADS
A team of scientists researching at the university of Benin, Nigeria have designed and tested brake pads made with palm kernel shells as friction base material, speaking on a television programme ‘Voyage of discovery’ on the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, the team leader Prof. A.O.A Ibhadode said that the brake pads have successfully passed through laboratory trials and that field tests will commence within the next few weeks.
Brake pads are very important in moving vehicles. Brake pads absorb the kinetic energy of a moving vehicle by friction thereby causing it to stop. The kinetic energy of the moving vehicle is converted to heat by the brake pads through friction in order for the vehicle to stop. The heat is dissipated to the surrounding environment. In addition when the brakes are applied particles of the friction base material, which is currently asbestos are also released. Asbestos is known to cause cancer and other terminal diseases.
Each time a brake is applied by a driver particles of asbestos are released into the atmosphere. This particles in the atmosphere may be inhaled by pedestrians. This raises health concern on the use of asbestos as friction base material for brake pads.
This is why this research finding is important. Asbestos cause diseases but with palm kernel shells there will be no health or environmental concerns. Palm kernel shells are bio-degradable and are natural. Palm kernel shells are currently agricultural wastes in Nigeria. This research if successful will make it a raw material for brake pad manufacturers and put more money in the hands of farmers.
A member of the research team Dr. Ishaya Dagwa of the Federal Polytechnic ,Muba, Nigeria commenting on the research said that of the nine additives used in making the brake pads, which include brass, iron, calcium oxide and quartz, only resin is not locally available in Nigeria. He added that this will reduce the cost of brake pads since most of the additives can be sourced locally.
The local availability of the additives in this brake pad is bound to provide opportunity for local entrepreneurs to supply raw-materials for the environment friendly brake pad manufacturers. It is hoped that this will create more employment opportunity for people in Nigeria. It is also hoped that this will make the Nigerian government to invest more in research and development (R and D) in institutions of higher learning in Nigeria.
According to prof. Ibhadode, as part of the field test, samples of the environment friendly brake pads will given to drivers throughout Nigeria. The drivers are expected to use the brake pads for 6 months and report on its performance. He also revealed that they are talking with brake pad manufacturers and that 1 of them have declared interest in the environment friendly
Brake pads are very important in moving vehicles. Brake pads absorb the kinetic energy of a moving vehicle by friction thereby causing it to stop. The kinetic energy of the moving vehicle is converted to heat by the brake pads through friction in order for the vehicle to stop. The heat is dissipated to the surrounding environment. In addition when the brakes are applied particles of the friction base material, which is currently asbestos are also released. Asbestos is known to cause cancer and other terminal diseases.
Each time a brake is applied by a driver particles of asbestos are released into the atmosphere. This particles in the atmosphere may be inhaled by pedestrians. This raises health concern on the use of asbestos as friction base material for brake pads.
This is why this research finding is important. Asbestos cause diseases but with palm kernel shells there will be no health or environmental concerns. Palm kernel shells are bio-degradable and are natural. Palm kernel shells are currently agricultural wastes in Nigeria. This research if successful will make it a raw material for brake pad manufacturers and put more money in the hands of farmers.
A member of the research team Dr. Ishaya Dagwa of the Federal Polytechnic ,Muba, Nigeria commenting on the research said that of the nine additives used in making the brake pads, which include brass, iron, calcium oxide and quartz, only resin is not locally available in Nigeria. He added that this will reduce the cost of brake pads since most of the additives can be sourced locally.
The local availability of the additives in this brake pad is bound to provide opportunity for local entrepreneurs to supply raw-materials for the environment friendly brake pad manufacturers. It is hoped that this will create more employment opportunity for people in Nigeria. It is also hoped that this will make the Nigerian government to invest more in research and development (R and D) in institutions of higher learning in Nigeria.
According to prof. Ibhadode, as part of the field test, samples of the environment friendly brake pads will given to drivers throughout Nigeria. The drivers are expected to use the brake pads for 6 months and report on its performance. He also revealed that they are talking with brake pad manufacturers and that 1 of them have declared interest in the environment friendly
posted by passyjango @ 6:10 PM
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