Bosch offers eco-friendly copper-free brake pads
In response to legislation requiring the reduction of copper in friction formulations, Bosch has announced the use of its first copper-free ceramic material in the premium-grade QuietCast™ line of braking products. Bosch provides full coverage for domestic, Asian and European cars, vans and SUVs with one out of every three vehicles on the road today using Bosch braking component content.
“This new material meets our highest performance standards and will be introduced in the first quarter of 2014, well ahead of the 2025 deadline,” said Robert Backode, Director of Product Management, Automotive Aftermarket Brake Components, Robert Bosch LLC. “In fact, many of Bosch’s semi-metallic formulas already meet this 2025 requirement so, with this introduction, Bosch is well on the way to having our entire braking portfolio be compliant with this future regulation,” said Backode.
The automotive industry’s shift to low-copper content in braking products is a result of legislation passed in the states of California and Washington in 2010 that requires reduction of the use of copper to below five percent (2021 low copper) and .5 percent (2025 no copper). This legislation is based on the grounds that each time a motorist applies the brakes, a bit of copper and other metals get deposited on the road and, when it rains, are washed into nearby streams and rivers – eventually harming aquatic life. Similar legislation has been introduced in Rhode Island, Oregon and New York.
Bosch QuietCast Disc Brake Pads are engineered to match braking performance and efficiency precisely to the needs of different types and sizes of vehicles.
“We carefully select friction formulations from a vast array of compounds to provide the blend of materials best suited to each vehicle. We choose compounds that assure quiet, reliable, and long-lived braking on all types of vehicles, from subcompacts to large SUVs,” stated Backode.
“Further,” he added, “dedicated engineers source and rigorously test the materials and formulations to ensure that the final product meets the highest quality standards. Bosch QuietCast Disc Brake Pads also feature rubber-core shims and many include Molded Shim Technology (MST), which add long lasting anti-squeal characteristics to our friction formulations.”
From the application for its first brake system design patent in 1936, to Anti-lock Braking technology and Electronic Stability Control system, Bosch has a long history of leading the industry with groundbreaking technologies.
“Our goal is to continue that tradition of excellence in both, performance and durability,” Backode said.
For more information on Bosch braking components, please visit http://www.boschautoparts.com/Brakes/Pages/BrakesSumm.aspx
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