Document rxmG2g2Zzj7n9E2z4aZDrDJpE

FILE NAME Monsanto MON DATE 1985 Mar 13 DOC MON002 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION European Patent Application - Friction Material Composites Containing Crystalline Phosphate Fibers and a Process for the Preparation Thereof Europ^/ischesPatentamt 3 19 European Patent Office Office europ^'endes brevets 11 Publication number 0 194 989 A2 12 EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION 21 Application number 86870033.7 22 Date of filing 13.03.88 Int F 16 D 69/02 30 Priority 14.03.85 US 711894 14.03.85 US 711893 43 Date of publication of application 17.09.86 Bulletin 86/38 Designated Contracting States AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LI LU NL SE 71 Applicant Monsanto Company Patent Department 800 North Lindbergh Boulevard , St. Louis Missouri 63167 72 Inventor Crutchfield Marvin Mack 1529 Cerulean Drive Creve Coeur Missouri 63146 72 Inventor Griffith Edward Jackson 310 Coventry Lane Manchester Missouri 63021 Hinkebein 72 Inventor John Arnold 2450 Barrett Station Road Ballwin Missouri 63021 4Representative Lunt John Cooper et al Monsanto Europe S.A. Patent Department Avenue de Tervuren 270-272 Letter Box No 1 8-1150 Brussels Friction material composites containing crystalline phosphate fibers and a process for the preparation thereof Asbestos friction material composites containing asbestiform crystalline calcium M phosphate fibers wherein M is a metal cation selected from the group consisting of sodium and lithium and mixtures thereof are useful as brake pads brake linings clutch facings and the like where friction material composites are needed Such composites are prepared by a blending asbestiform crystalline calcium M phosphate fibers wherein M is a metal cation selected from the group consisting of sodium and lithium and mixtures thereof a thermosetting based binder a AZ particulate friction modifier and a particulate inorganic filler to form a uniform mixture b placing the mixture within a mold cavity having a shape approximately that of the desired 989 composite and c compressing the mixture at a temperature and a pressure and for a time sufficient to form the asbestos friction material composites 194 V EP -1- 60460 94989 FRICTION MATERIAL COMPOSITES CONTAINING CRYSTALLINE PHOSPHATE FIBERS AND A PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION THEREOF BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates to asbestos friction material composites and a process for the preparation of such composites More particularly this invention relates to asbestos friction 10 material composites containing asbestiform crystal- line calcium M phosphate fibers wherein M is a metal cation selected from the group consisting of sodium and lithium and mixtures thereof and a process for the preparation The friction material composites are 15 suitable for use as brake pads brake linings clutch facings and other similar uses where friction material composites are needed Description of the Prior Art Friction material composites for use as 20 brake elements in automotive truck bus or similar vehicles are known in the art In general such com- posites contain asbestos fibers as an inorganic fibrous reinforcement material The popularity enjoyed by asbestos fibers for such uses resides in 25 the fact that asbestos has been considered to be relatively inexpensive is easily preformed vides a brake element having excellent wear and produrabil- ity friction and strength properties However asbestos has recently been found to expose workers 30 making or installing the brake elements as well as the public to a potentially serious health hazard It has been determined that the inhalation of small asbestos fibers can result in a disease known as asbestosis in which these fibers accumulate in the 35 lungs scar lung tissue and cause many respiratory problems It has become increasingly clear that 0194989 -2- 43-21 inhalation of asbestos fibers over an extended period of time can lead to a cancer of the lining of the lungs known as mesothelioma as well as lung cancer 10 15 20 25 30 In addition in the operation of conventional asbestos- based brake some of the elements as the brake element wears away asbestos discharges into the atmosphere in its fibrous form to thereby pose a potential hazard In view of the potential hazard of asbestos material it has become increasingly desirable to find substitutes for asbestos in those applications involving the manufacture and use of materials containing asbestos and more specifically for manufacturers of friction materials such as asbestos brake elements to find suitable substitutes for asbestos U.S. Patent 4,137,214 discloses friction compositions containing nonasbestos fibrous materials Suitable nonasbestos materials include for example fiber glass mineral wool silica fibers carbon fibers boron fibers and the like and tungsten fibers or steel fibers and the like In U.S. Patent 4,278,584 an asbestos organic friction material reportedly having favorable mechanical thermal and frictional properties is described Such materials contain phenolic resins carbon fibers steel fibers and filler materials and are useful as brakes and clutches of automobile and brake blocks of railroad railway vehicles U.S. Patent 4,374,211 discloses a non- asbestos friction material composite Such composites are comprised of a thermosetting binder a nonasbestos fibrous material such as for example those disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,137,214 discussed hereinabove and an effective amount of an aramid polymer an aromatic polycarbonamide pulp fiber Such friction material -3- 43-21 0194989 0194989 0194989 reportedly results in good structural integrity of preforms made therefrom Although these prior art friction materials are effective to eliminate asbestos in products utilizing such friction materials none have been found to provide strength wear resistance and frictional properties comparable to those provided by containing friction materials coupled with economical materials and manufacturing costs For 10 example glass fibers have a tendency to fracture in the mixing procedures used to prepare the friction compositions with the result that they contribute poor reinforcement Furthermore glass fibers are brittle and tend to break down at the braking interface dur- 15 ing service of the brake element and high wear rates are thereby encountered Moreover the nonporous glass fibers have a low surface area as compared with asbestos and the glass fibers do not absorb products of decomposition of the organic components caused by 20 heat which occurs during braking As a result when glass fibers are used as the reinforcing material friction drops precipitously at the temperatures gen- erated during braking This friction drop due to poor absorbtion by the reinforcing fibers is known in the 25 brake industry as fade Similarly organic fibers such as cotton wood pulp and rayon synthetic fibers composed of such organic polymers as polyacrylonitrile polyamide polyester and the like have low surface area and exhibit poor heat resistance These latter 30 fiber materials tend to lose strength at temperatures in the range of 93 C - 149 C 240 F - 300 F and break down in the same manner as the binder material The discovery of the friction material composites of the instant invention which exhibits properties com- 35 parable to and in many instances superior to conventional containing friction material in 0194989 -4- 43-21 10 15 20 25 30 35 wear durability friction and strength while at the same time presenting no health hazard and a process for their preparation therefore is believed to be a decided advance in the asbestos friction material composite art SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide novel asbestos friction material composites con- taining asbestiform fibers wherein M is crystalline calcium M phosphate a metal cation selected from the group consisting of sodium and lithium and mixtures thereof which exhibit wear durability friction and strength characteristics comparable to or exceed- ing those of conventional asbestos friction material composites and at the same time present no health hazard It is also an object of this invention to provide an asbestos friction material composite which can be shaped into brake pads brake lining segments clutch facings and the like using conventional processes Another object of this invention is to provide a process friction material for preparing novel asbestos composites containing asbestiform crystalline calcium M phosphate fibers wherein M is a metal cation selected from the group consisting of sodium and lithium and mixtures thereof which exhibit wear durability friction and strength characteristics comparable to or exceeding those of conventional asbestos friction material com- posites and at the same time present no health hazard Yet another object of this invention is to provide a process friction material for preparing an asbestos composite which can be shaped into -5- 43-21 0194989 brake pads brake lining segments clutch facings and the like using conventional processes These and other objects will become apparent from the accompanying description and claims The provision of the friction material composites objects is achieved by friction material composites which comprise a asbestiform crystalline calcium M phosphate fibers wherein M is a metal 10 cation selected from the group con- sisting of sodium and lithium and mixtures thereof b a thermosetting based binder c a particulate friction modifier and 15 d a particulate inorganic filler The provision of the process for the pre- paration of such friction material composites objects is achieved by a process which comprises a blending asbestiform crystalline 20 calcium M phosphate fibers wherein M is a metal cation selected from the group consisting of sodium and lithium and mixtures thereof a thermosetting based binder a 25 particulate friction modifier and a particulate inorganic filler to form a uniform mixture b placing the mixture within a mold cavity having a shape approximately 30 that of the desired composite and c compressing the mixture at a temper- ature and a pressure and for a time sufficient to form the asbestos friction material composites -6- 0194989 43-21 10 15 20 25 30 35 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In accordance with this invention novel asbestos friction material composites and a process for the preparation thereof are provided The friction material composites exhibit wear dura- bility friction and strength characteristics comparable to or exceeding those of conventional asbestos friction materials while at the same time present no health hazard Such composites comprise a asbestiform crystalline calcium M phosphate fibers wherein M is a metal cation selected from the group con- sisting of sodium and lithium and mixtures thereof b c d The a thermosetting based binder a particulate friction modifier and a particulate inorganic filler composites are prepared by a process which comprises a blending asbestiform crystalline calcium M phosphate fibers wherein M is a metal cation selected from the group consisting of sodium and lithium and mixtures thereof a thermosetting based binder a particulate friction modifier and a particulate inorganic filler to form a uniform mixture b placing the mixture within a mold cavity having a shape approximately that of the desired composite and c compressing the mixture at a temper- ature and a pressure and for a time sufficient to form the asbestos friction material composites 0194989 -7- 43-21 It is contemplated that in use the asbestos friction material composites of the instant invention may be fastened unto standard brake shoe members by conventional means either by integral molding riveting or bonding with a rubber solventbased adhesive as desired for installation into conventional brake assemblies The asbestiform crystalline calcium M phos- phate fibers wherein M is a metal cation selected 10 from the group consisting of sodium and lithium and mixtures thereof are high molecular phosphates CaM 3 wherein n is a number representing the number of repeating CaM units Advantageously such fibers have an aspect ratio average 15 diameter ratio D of at least 30 and an average diameter in the range of from about 0.5 micron ...m to about 20 ...m Preferred fibers are those having an aspect ratio of from about 40 to about 100 and an average diameter from about 1 micron to about 10 20 microns Among such fibers particularly preferred are calcium M phosphate fibers wherein M is sodium Details of the preparation crystallinity and other characterizing properties of asbestiform crystalline calcium M phosphate fibers are described 25 in U.S. Patent 4,346,028 the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference It is contemplated within the scope of the instant invention that the asbestiform crystalline calcium M phosphate fibers may be used alone as the 30 fibrous reinforcement material or in combination with suitable auxiliary fibers When employed the auxil- iary fibers preferably will be present in an amount such that the phosphate auxiliary fiber weight ratio will be about 2/1 or higher that is at least 35 2/1 Representative of suitable auxiliary fibers are -8- 0194989 43-21 glass fibers mineral wool fibers aramid fibers steel fibers and the like and mixtures thereof The thermosetting based binder mate- rials suitable to prepare the asbestos friction material composites of the instant invention are those which provide the desired physical properties and characteristics in the final product and in general may be any thermosetting resin generally known to be useful in the production of brake pads 10 brake lining segments clutch facings and the like Representative thermosetting resins include phenolformaldehyde resins furfural resins melamine- formaldehyde resins epoxy resins linked alkyd resins diallyl phthalate resins and formalde- 15 hyde resins Preferred resins are formaldehyde resins A formaldehyde resin suitable for use in the instant invention is available commercially from Schenectady Chemicals Co. Inc. as SP6416 As will be apparent to those skilled in the 20 friction art the thermosetting resins suit- able for use in the instant invention may be used alone or in combination with a heat and chemical resistant vulcanized rubber Examples of such rubber include nitrile rubber butyl rubber styrene 25 diene copolymer rubber acrylonitrile rubber and chlorinated butyl rubber A preferred rubber is nitrile rubber When a rubber is used in the instant inven- tion it preferably constitutes less than 50 of the 30 thermosetting based binder It may be incor- porated into composite in the the asbestos friction material form of a solution in an organic sol- vent such as trichlorethylene or more preferably in the form of a powder and a vulcanizing agent -- 35 sulfur mercaptobenzothiazole tetramethylthiuram -9- 0194989 43-21 disulfide and mixtures thereof can be used for example -- also The particulate friction modifier component employed in the instant invention is incorporated to stabilize the coefficient of friction of the composite materials under a variety of operating and climactic conditions to which a typical brake element will be exposed during use so as to provide wear resistance for such composites The particulate friction modi- 10 fier preferably is a cashew material such as cashew nut shell based friction particles Suitable cashew friction particles are an aldehyde condensation product of cashew nut shell liquid and are available commercially from Colloid Chemicals L5 Laboratories Inc. as Collan 10A Particulate inorganic filler materials em- ployed in the instant invention may be crystalline or amorphous in structure as long as they are able to maintain stability at temperatures up to 538 C 1000 F and higher Representative of suitable particulate inorganic filler materials include barytes barium sulfate carbon or graphite calcium car- bonate silica and the like In general however dolomite a conventional filler is not preferred for use in the instant invention due to low normal friction exhibited by such composites It will be recognized of course that this characteristic may vary depending to some extent upon the remaining components of such composites The particle size of the particulate materials that is the particulate friction modifier and the particulate inorganic filler is not particularly critical The particle sizes normally employed in friction materials are satisfactory but wide deviations therefrom will have no substantial effect on -10- 0194989 43-21 10 15 20 25 30 35 performance Particle sizes from about 0.5 mto about 500 mmay be used In the practice of the instant invention the components composites are of the asbestos friction material blended in the desired proportions in a mixer such as a Waring blender The mixed compon- ents are then placed in a preform mold cavity having approximately the desired product shape The mixture is then compressed at ambient temperatures and at a pressure of about about one minute 18.0 The MPa 2600 psi for a period of preform is then cured by heat- ing to a temperature about one hour while of about 171 C maintaining the 340 F pressure for at about 18.0 MPa Alternatively the preform step may be omitted and the mixture immediately subjected to the 171 C curing step For larger test pieces which may be trimmed means known to to any desired size the art the formed by conventional pieces are sub- jected to a post cure in drying oven at about 177 c 350 F for about four hours Any convenient concentration on a weight basis of the components of the asbestos friction material composites may be used In general the com- posites of the instant invention will comprise on a weight basis from about % to about 20 of the phosphate fibers from about 10 to about 30 of the thermosetting based binder from about % to about 25 of the particulate friction modifier and from about 40 to about 70 of the particulate inor- ganic filler In preferred embodiment the concentration for the phosphate fiber will range from about 10 to about 17.5 for the thermosetting based binder from about 15 to about 25 for the particu- late friction modifier from about 10 to about 15 for the particulate to about 65 In a inorganic filler from about 45 most preferred embodiment the -11- 0194989 43-21 concentration for the phosphate fiber will be as previously noted about 10 to about 17.5 for the thermosetting based binder about 15 for the particulate friction modifier about 10 with the balance being particulate inorganic filler If de- sired an auxiliary fiber may be substituted for a portion of the particulate inorganic filler and employed in combination with the phosphate fibers in an amount such that the auxiliary fibers will consti- 10 tute about % to about 10 of the friction material composite so long as the aforementioned phosphate auxiliary fiber weight ratio is at least 2/1 In a similar manner a rubber with nitrile rubber being preferred may be substituted for a portion of 15 the particulate inorganic filler and employed in com- bination with the thermosetting resin of the thermo- setting based binder in an amount such that the rubber will constitute about 0.5 to about % of the friction material composite 20 The asbestos friction material compos- ites of and prepared in accordance with the instant invention exhibit excellent wear durability friction and strength characteristics and at the same time present no health hazard 25 The following specific examples illustrating the best presently methods of practicing this invention are described in detail in order to facili- tate a clear understanding of the invention It should be understood however that the detailed 30 exposition of the application of the invention while indicating preferred embodiments are given by way of illustration only and are not to be construed as limiting the invention since various changes and modi- | fications within the spirit of the invention will 35 become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description -12- 0194989 43-21 10 15 20 25 30 35 EXAMPLES 1-14 a Calcium Sodium Phosphate Fibers - Asbesti- form crystalline calcium sodium phosphate fibers were prepared in five batches of 29.0 kg to 70.3 kg 64 lb to 155 lb each by scale of the general procedures described in the previously referenced U.S. Patent 4,346,028 In a typical preparation 20.452 parts 85.2 phosphoric acid 4.880 parts calcium carbonate 3.241 parts sodium carbonate and about 8.1 parts distilled water providing an anhydrous basis mole percent ratio of 50.60 P205 32.45 Cao and 16.95 Na Owere placed in a large alumina crucible and heated slowly in a furnace at a rate of 5 hr up to 1000 C at which point essentially all the water and CO had been driven off and the contents were molten The melt was held at 1000 C for 24 hr cooled to 740 C at which time several small seed crystals of CaNa were added which was held at 740 C to the for 72 surface of the melt hr to crystallize The temperature was additional 72 hr to reduced to 720 C and held for an complete the crystallization after which the crystallized mass was slowly cooled to room temperature and removed from the crucible The crystallized mass was broken apart passed through a mechanical jaw crusher and then fiberized by dry milling in an air classification mill The fibers had an average aspect ratio of 64.5 an average diameter of 2.09 m and a surface area of 6773 cm b Friction Material Composite Preparation - Sample asbestos friction material com- posites x 15.24 were prepared in two sizes -- 1.27 cm wide cm long x 0.64 cm thick 0.5 in in 0.25 in with a weight of about 20.0 g and 5.08 cm x 15.24 cm long x 0.64 cm thick 2 in x 6 in x 0.25 in with a weight of about 100.0 g -13- 0194989 43-21 Dry ingredients in the amount of either 20.0 g or 100.0 g depending upon the composite size desired and having the desired composition were dry blended thoroughly in a Waring blender The blended material was loaded into a rectangular steel mold having a shape approximatethlayt of the desired pro- duct and pressed for one hour at 18.3 MPa 2650 psi and a temperature of 171 C 340 F The 5.08 cm wide pressed pieces were subjected to a post cure in 10 drying oven at 177 C 350 F for a period of four hours For green flexural strength tests the samples were compressed at 18.3 MPa 2650 psi at ambient tem- perature for one minute The parameters and property data for the asbestos friction material composites 15 are tabulated in Table 1 TABLE 1 EXAMPLE 2 COMPOSITION,, wt % 45.0 Barytes 10.0 PF9 FLEXURAL STRENGTH,MPaSTRENGTH,MPa GREEN CURED 69912.84 , GROWTH % 0.58 FRICTION COEFFICIENTCOE.FICIENT....... FRICTION CLASS NORMAL 0.372 HOT 0.391 11 3 86.18 64638.35 64638.35 0.38 0.330 0.382 --- 410 55.0 Asbestos --- 510 55.0 Fiberglass 10 610 55.0 Dolomite 33.09 710 45.0 Dolomite 29.65 10.0 PF9 810 50.0 Dolomite 406.79 5.0 Kevlar Ara- 15 mid Fiber Pulp 9 45.0 Barytes 87.56 87.56 69175.10 0.75 0.290 0.321 51662.42 0.18 0.530 0.380 -14- 37107.58 37107.58 0/0 0.448 0.313 48042.67 48042.67 0.80 0.220 0.293 45850.14 0.20 0.330 0.320 43-21 69933.52 69933.52 0.57 0.332 0.428 6046 01948 TABLE 1 cont'd EXAMPLE 2 WEAR % WT THICKNESS 5.99 3.49 MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS Pass QUALITY CONTROL Good standard test 10 high fade in extended test 3 6.75 4.04 Pass Good standard test excessive fade in extended test 10 410 9.11 7.65 510 11.81 10.66 610 3.04 1.93 Pass Pass Pass Acceptable performance Excessive fade high pitched screech Excessive variation in friction coefficient 15 710 4.55 10.53 Fail Low normal friction 810 2.11 2.27 Fail Excessive variation in friction coefficient 9 6.69 2.98 20 Pass Good standard test excessive fade in extended test -15- 43-21 6046 01948 TABLE1 cont'd FRICTION COEFFICIENT... COMPOSITION,, FLEXURAL STRENGTHMPa , FRICTION CLASS6 EXAMPLE wt % GREENS CURED4 GROWTH5 % NORMAL HOT 5 10 53.5 Barytes 248.21 37790.16 37790.16 0.20 0.668 0.546 1.5 NR10 11 43.5 Barytes 386.11 1.5 NR10 64245.35 64245.35 0.18 0.368 0.396 10.0 PF9 10 12 36.0 Barytes 434.37 1.5 NR10 70436.84 70436.84 0.53 0.312 0.367 17.5 PF9 1310 Commercial wae Asbestos Pad 15 1410 Commercial Semi- <--- 0.26 0.438 0.467 -16- 0.96 0.338 0.334 metallic Pad 43-21 6046 01948 wetee ween TABLE 1 cont'd EXAMPLE 10 WEAR % WT THICKNESS 5.31 3.76 MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS7 Pass QUALITY CONTROL Excessive fade 6.03 3.35 12 4.74 2.82 10 1310 11.77 8.45 Pass Pass Pass Good standard test excessive fade in extended test Good standard test excessive fade in extended test Acceptable performance 1410 hone 0.91 Pass Excellent performance low wear -17- 43-21 6046 01948 -18- 0194989 43-21 5 10 - 15 20 25 30 35 1 A base formulation was employed which had a weight % composition as follows 33.33 formaldehyde thermosetting resin containing hexamethylene- tetramine as curing agent available commercially from Schenectady Chemicals Inc. 22.22 particulate friction modifier which was an aldehyde condensation product of cashew nut shell liquid available commercially from Colloid Chemicals Laboratories Inc. as Collan 10A 44.44 barytes barium sulfate available commercially from Pfizer Minerals Pigments & Metals Div 55 additive material In use the fiber and other additives if employed to be tested was added to the base formulation in an amount sufficient to consti- tute 55 by weight of the final composition This resulted in the 33.33 22.22 and 44.44 in the base formulation being reduced to 15 10 and 20 respectively all by weight in the final composition If less than 55 fiber was used the balance was made up with filler material for example barytes and rubber for example nitrile rubber 2,3,4 The test was carried out according to ASTM D790-80 test method for plastics on a flexural jig on an Instrom Universal testing instrument The 15.24 cm long green uncured strength samples were cut in half to provide two 7.62 cm 3 in test pieces and each piece was tested with a 50.8 mm 2 in span The cured samples were broken with a 101.60 mm 4 in -19- 0194989 43-21 span and the two resulting pieces were rebroken with a 50.8 mm 2 in span 5 The test carried out according to SAE Test J160 10 The test was carried out according to SAE Test J661a by Greening Testing Laboratories Inc. and the classifications were made in accordance with SAE Test J866a The standard J661a test has 343 C 650 F as the upper temperature limit The = extended test has an upper temperature limit of 454 C 850 F a more severe test ~ This test was carried out according to SAE Test J998 . 8 Qualitative observations and comments regarding 15 performance of test pieces during the SAE Test J661a Phosphate fibers Comparative example Nitrile rubber -20- 0194989 43-21 Thus it is apparent that there has been provided in accordance with the asbestos friction material instant invention composites containing crystalline phosphate fibers and a process for preparing same that fully satisfy the objects and advan- tages set forth hereinabove While the invention has been described with respect to various specific examples that the and embodiments thereof invention is not limited it is understood thereto and that 10 many alternatives modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description Accordingly it is in- tended to embrace all such alternatives modifica- tions and variations as fall within the spirit and 15 broad scope of the invention -21- 0194989 43-21 WHAT IS CLAIMED IS 1. An asbestos friction material composite containing phosphate fibers comprising a asbestiform crystalline calcium M phosphate fibers wherein M is a metal cation selected from the group consisting of sodium and lithium and mixtures thereof b a thermosetting based binder 10 a particulate friction modifier and d a particulate inorganic filler 2 The asbestos friction material composite of claim 1 wherein M is sodium 3. The asbestos friction material 15 composite of Claim 1 wherein the phosphate fibers have an aspect ratio of at least 30 4. The asbestos friction material composite of Claim 3 wherein the phosphate fibers have an aspect ratio of from about 40 to about 20 100 5. The asbestos friction material composite of claim 1 wherein the phosphate fibers have an average diameter of from about 0.5 ...mto about 20 m 25 6. The asbestos friction material composite of Claim 5 wherein the phosphate fibers have an average diameter of from about 1 m to about ; 10 ...m 7. The asbestos friction material 30 composite of claim 1 wherein the composite further comprises an auxiliary fiber selected from the group consisting of glass fibers mineral wool fibers aramid fibers steel fibers and mixtures thereof 8. The asbestos friction material 35 composite of claim 1 wherein the thermosetting -22- 0194989 43-21 based binder comprises a formaldehyde thermosetting resin 9. The asbestos friction material composite of Claim 8 wherein the thermosetting based binder further comprises a rubber 10. The asbestos friction material composite of Claim 9 wherein the rubber is a nitrile rubber 11. The asbestos friction material 10 composite of claim 1 wherein the particulate friction modifier is an aldehyde condensation product of cashew nut shell liquid 12 The asbestos friction material composite of Claim 1 wherein the particulate inor- 15 ganic filler is selected from the group consisting of barytes calcium carbonate silica and mixtures thereof 13. The asbestos friction material composite of claim 11 wherein the particulate inor- 20 ganic filler is barytes 14. The asbestos friction material composite of claim 1 wherein the particulate friction modifier and the particulate inorganic filler have an average particle size from about 0.5 ...mto about 25 500 ...m 15. The asbestos friction material composite of claim 1 wherein the composite comprises a from about % to about 20 by weight of the phosphate fibers 30 b from about 10 to about 30 by weight of the thermosetting based binder c from about % to about 25 by weight of the particulate fric- 35 tion modifier and -23- 0194989 43-21 d from about 40 to about 70 by weight of the particulate inorganic filler 16 An asbestos friction material composite containing phosphate fibers comprising a from about 10 to about 17.5 by weight of asbestiform crystal- line calcium sodium phosphate having an aspect ratio of from 10 about 40 to about 100 and an average diameter of from about 1 ...m to about 10 ...m b from about 15 to about 25 by weight of a formaldehyde 15 thermosetting based binder c from about 10 to about 15 by weight of a particulate alde- cashew nut shell liquid 20 condensation product and d from about 45 to about 65 by weight of particulate barytes 17. A process for the preparation of an asbestos friction material composite containing 25 phosphate fibers which comprises a blending asbestiform crystalline calcium M phosphate fibers wherein M is a metal cation selected from the group consisting of sodium and 30 lithium and mixtures thereof a thermosetting based binder a particulate friction modifier and a particulate inorganic filler to form a uniform mixture -24- 0194989 43-21 10 15 20 25 30 35 b placing the mixture within a mold cavity having a shape approximately that of the desired composite and c compressing the mixture at a temper- ature and a pressure and for a time sufficient to form the asbestos friction material composites 18 The process of claim 17 wherein M is sodium 19. The process of claim 17 wherein the phos- phate fibers 20. have an aspect ratio of at least 30 The process of Claim 19 wherein the phos- phate fibers have an aspect ratio of from about 40 to about 100 21 The process of Claim 17 wherein the phos- phate fibers have an average diameter of from about 0.5 ...mto about 20 ...m 22. The process of Claim 21 wherein the phos- phate fibers have an average . a" 1 ...mto about 10 m oe 23. The process of diameter Claim 17 of from wherein about the com- posite further comprises an auxiliary fiber selected from the group consisting of glass fibers mineral wool fibers aramid fibers steel fibers and mixtures thereof 24. The process of Claim 17 wherein the thermosetting based binder comprises a phenolformaldehyde thermosetting resin 25. The process of Claim 24 wherein the thermosetting based binder further comprises a rubber 26. The process of Claim 25 wherein the rubber is a nitrile rubber 27. The process of Claim 17 wherein the particulate friction modifier is an aldehyde condensation product of cashew nut shell liquid -24- 0194989 43-21 10 15 20 25 30 35 b placing the mixture within a mold cavity having a shape approximately that of the desired composite and c compressing the mixture at a temper- ature and a pressure and for a time sufficient to form the asbestos friction material composites 18 The process of claim 17 wherein M is sodium 19 The process of Claim 17 wherein the phos- phate fibers 20. have an aspect ratio of at least 30 The process of claim 19 wherein the phos- phate fibers have an aspect ratio of from about 40 to about 100 21. The process of Claim 17 wherein the phos- phate fibers have an average diameter of from about 0.5 ...mto about 20 ...m 22. The process of Claim 21 wherein the phos- phate fibers have an average diameter mto about 10 m 2 23. The process of Claim 17 of from wherein about the com- posite further comprises an auxiliary fiber selected from the group consisting of glass fibers mineral wool fibers aramid fibers steel fibers and mixtures thereof 24. The process of claim 17 wherein the thermosetting based binder comprises a phenolformaldehyde thermosetting resin 25. The process of Claim 24 wherein the thermosetting based binder further comprises a rubber 26. The process of Claim 25 wherein the rubber is a nitrile rubber 27. The process ofClaim 17 wherein the particulate friction modifier is an aldehyde condensation product of cashew nut shell liquid -25- 0194989 43-21 28. The process of claim 17 wherein the particulate inorganic filler is selected from the group consisting of barytes calcium carbonate silica and mixtures thereof 29. The process of Claim 28 wherein the particulate inorganic filler is barytes 30. The process of Claim 17 wherein the particulate friction modifier and the particulate inorganic filler have an average particle size from 10 about 0.5 ...m to about 500 ...m 31. The process of Claim 17 wherein the com- posite comprises a from about % to about 20 by weight of the phosphate fibers 15 b from about 10 to about 30 by weight of the thermosetting based binder from about % to about 25 by weight of the particulate fric- 20 tion modifier and d from about 40 to about 70 by weight of the particulate inor- ganic filler 32. The process of claim 17 wherein the mix- 25 ture is compressed at ambient temperature and a pressure of about 18.0 MPa for about one minute 33. The process of Claim 32 wherein the mix- ture is further compressed for a period of about one hour at a temperature of about 171 C and a pressure 30 of about 18.0 MPa 34. The process of claim 17 wherein the mix- ture is compressed at a temperature of about 171 C and a pressure of about 18.0 MPa for about one hour 35. The process of claim 17 wherein the com- 35 posite is subjected to a post cure at a temperature of about 177 C for about four hours -26- 0194989 43-21 10 15| 20 25 30 35 36. A process for the preparation of an asbestos free friction material composite containing phosphate fibers which comprises a blending from about 10 to about 17.5 by weight of asbestiform crystalline calcium sodium phosphate having an aspect ratio of from about 40 to about 100 and an average diameter of from about 1 pm to about 10 ...m from about 15 to about 25 by weight of a formaldehyde thermosetting based binder from about 10 to about 15 by weight of a particulate aldehyde nut shell liquid condensation product and from about 45 to about 65 by weight of particulate barytes to form a uniform mixture b placing the mixture within a mold c cavity having a shape approximately that of the desired composite compressing the mixture at a temperature and a pressure and for a time sufficient to form the asbestos friction material composite 37. The process of Claim 36 wherein the mixture is compressed at ambient temperature and a pressure of about 18.0 MPa for about one minute 38. The process of Claim 37 wherein the mix- ture is further compressed for a period of about one hour at a temperature of about 171 C and a pressure of about 18.0 MPa -27- 0194989 43-21 39 The process of Claim 35 wherein the mix- ture is compressed at a temperature of about 171 C and a pressure of about 18.0 MPa for about one hour 40. The process of Claim 35 wherein the com- posite is subjected to a post cure at a temperature of about 177 C for about four hours