A clutch system includes a first clutch member and a second clutch member for transmitting torque from a vehicle power generator. The first clutch member includes a first a first clutch element having a first surface and a first friction material disposed on said first surface. The second clutch member is configured to engage the first clutch plate and includes a second clutch element having a second surface and a second friction material disposed on the second surface. The first friction material is configured to be engaged with the second friction material during operation of the vehicle power generator.

A shaped material (1, 1′), for example a disk for a disk brake, preferably a ventilated disk, includes a plurality of layers of material (6) in a spiral shape, overlapping along a development axis (X). Each layer of material (6) it is formed by a fabric (2) predominantly or exclusively made of carbon fibres (8), at least part of the layers being impregnated by an impregnating agent. A method is for the manufacture of a shaped material.

A method of pitch infiltration of a densified preform may comprise disposing a pitch on a densified preform surface; heating the pitch and making the pitch into an anisotropic network structure; guiding the pitch through the densified preform in a predetermined direction; aligning the pitch in a predetermined orientation; and stabilizing the pitch. The method may result in a carbon/carbon part having increase wear life, enhanced oxidation protection, and/or reduced moisture sensitivity.

A friction disk may comprise a first wear surface formed from a carbon fiber-carbon matrix composite material. A wear plug may be located in an opening defined by the carbon fiber-carbon matrix composite material. The wear plug may extend axially from the wear surface. The wear plug may comprise a rod or a particulate.

A method for densifying porous annular substrates by chemical vapor infiltration, includes providing a plurality of unit modules including a support tray on which substrates are stacked, the support tray including a gas intake opening extended by an injection tube disposed in an internal volume formed by the central passages of the stacked substrates, the injection tube including gas injection orifices opening into the internal volume, forming stacks of unit modules in the enclosure of a densification furnace and injecting, into the stacks of unit modules, a gas phase including a gas precursor of a matrix material to be deposited within the porosity of the substrates.

A friction disk may comprise a first wear surface formed from a carbon fiber-carbon matrix composite material. A wear plug may be located in an opening defined by the carbon fiber-carbon matrix composite material. The wear plug may extend axially from the wear surface. The wear plug may comprise a rod or a particulate.

A method of pitch infiltration of a densified preform may comprise disposing a pitch on a densified preform surface; heating the pitch and making the pitch into an anisotropic network structure; guiding the pitch through the densified preform in a predetermined direction; aligning the pitch in a predetermined orientation; and stabilizing the pitch. The method may result in a carbon/carbon part having increase wear life, enhanced oxidation protection, and/or reduced moisture sensitivity.

A method for producing an automotive friction material with optimized multi-dimensional construction includes receiving a base friction-disc material, cutting the base friction-disc material to a predetermined size and shape, assembling the sized and shaped cut base friction-disc material, bonding the base friction-disc material to a base friction plate, and utilizing a multi nozzle printing array to deposit friction enhancing materials overtop a reaction surface of the base friction-disc material.

A method of manufacturing a ceramic matrix composite component includes pressure casting a fibrous preform with a slurry comprising boron carbide and densifying the fibrous preform using a liquid source of carbon. The method may include forming holes in the fibrous preform before pressure casting the fibrous preform with the slurry. The method may also include sintering the boron carbide after the pressure casting. In various embodiments, the sintering may be performed before the densifying.

The invention provides a friction material and a method of making the friction material. The friction material comprises man-made vitreous fibres whose chemical composition comprises: less than 2 wt % Fe.sub.2O.sub.3; 30-40 wt % MgO+CaO; 35-45 wt % SiO.sub.2; 17-24 wt % Al.sub.2O.sub.3; and 1-5 wt % K.sub.2O+Na.sub.2O.