Reduction of particulate emissions from vehicle braking systems

Abstract

A vehicle braking system reduces particulate emissions resulting from wear of the brake pad and rotor during stopping or slowing of a vehicle. The rotor includes at least one friction surface, that has an outer coating of a corrosion and wear-resistant material. This outer coating can optionally include a first layer comprising a crystalline material and a second layer overlaying and contacting the first layer and comprising an amorphous material. The first layer and the second layer can optionally have an inter-layer period of less than 10 nm such that the structure of the outer coating is that of a superlattice. A brake member that includes a friction material is mounted to a caliper on the vehicle with the friction material disposed opposite the at least one friction surface so that the friction material reversibly engages with the outer coating of the corrosion and wear-resistant material when the braking system is operated to stop or slow the vehicle. Contact between the friction material and the outer coating results in substantially reduced conversion of the friction material to dust while producing an improved coefficient of friction relative to standard braking systems. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.