Particulate matter emissions from passenger car brakes
This article presents the current legal framework and upcoming regulations related to particulate matter emissions resulting from the wear of automotive brake components. Brake dust emissions are a recurring topic in scientific literature due to their detrimental impact on both the environment and human health. Brake dust has been shown to exhibit carcinogenic properties similar to those of exhaust-derived particulate matter. This issue also affects electric vehicles, which are often heavier than internal combustion engine vehicles. When regenerative braking is underutilized, the increased vehicle mass may result in elevated brake dust emissions. Consequently, forthcoming regulations such as Euro 7 will mandate the assessment and limitation of such emissions for both conventional and electric vehicles. The authors conducted a series of braking scenarios on a specialized test bench, measuring dust emission parameters and determining the mass loss of brake pads after each test. The scenarios varied in terms of simulated initial vehicle speed, brake pedal force (including emergency braking conditions), and pre-established braking protocols. The study included measurements of particulate matter concentration and particle number across various size ranges. The AVL Micro Soot Sensor was used for particulate matter concentration measurements, while a TSI Engine Exhaust Particle Sizer (EEPS) spectrometer was employed to measure particle number and size distribution (covering diameters from 6 nm to 600 nm). The results enabled a qualitative comparison of particulate emissions and an analysis of particle size distribution across different braking conditions. The next phase of the study will evaluate the particle size under similar operating conditions but using various types of friction linings.
Topic: Other
Author: Jacek Pielecha
Co-authors: Michał Libera, Łukasz Rymaniak, Igor Książek
