Tenneco’s Ferodo original equipment (OE) braking business has introduced advanced copper-free hybrid friction material composites that simultaneously serve braking performance and comfort requirements in both internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric vehicles (EVs), the company said.

The new hybrid friction material combines low steel (LS) and non-asbestos organic (NAO) composites in one for brake pads. The brand’s copper-free hybrid friction material entered series production in 2022 at the company´s braking facility in Chongqing, China. Several projects are in the testing and evaluation phase in Europe.

The company said LS materials offer high temperature braking performance and have the ability to remove disc corrosion. NAO materials enable good NVH performance and low brake dust contamination. Tenneco’s said its hybrid composite material is expected to cover a range of different market demands with a single approach and is particularly suited to the growing range of electric and electrified vehicles.

“I am proud that Ferodo continues its track record of bringing innovative friction materials early to market,” said Neville Rudd, group vice president and general manager, OE braking, Tenneco. “In 2012, Ferodo was one of the first to technically release and introduce copper-free braking materials for light vehicles, well ahead of industry regulation. We see strong potential in our new hybrid friction material composites that enable us to offer outstanding braking solutions
for various customer demands, including in the growing e-mobility segment. This expands and diversifies our product portfolio and strengthens our ability to deliver solutions for all our customers, regardless of powertrain strategy.”