An example method includes combining an interlayer and a carbon fiber fabric, wherein the interlayer comprises a highly oriented milled carbon fiber ply comprising a plurality of out-of-plane carbon fibers. The method further includes winding the interlayer and the carbon fiber fabric around a core to form a composite fiber preform comprising a plurality of layers defining an annulus extending along a central axis. The method further includes densifying the composite fiber preform.

An example method includes forming an interlayer on a carbon fiber fabric to form a composite fiber fabric. The interlayer comprises a binder. The method further includes winding the composite fiber fabric around a core to form a composite fiber preform comprising a plurality of layers defining an annulus extending along a central axis. The method further includes densifying the composite fiber preform.

A friction material for a clutch pad comprising: a base layer including: a plurality of fibers; and, a filler material; and, a surface layer, substantially devoid of fibers, including: a friction modifier; and, a coupling agent. A method of making a friction material composite, the method comprising: forming a base layer, having oppositely disposed first and second surfaces and a first density, and including a plurality of fibers and a filler material; mixing a friction modifier and an organosilane coupling agent to form a mixture; applying the mixture uniformly to the first surface of the base layer to form a friction modifying surface layer, having oppositely disposed third and fourth surfaces and a second density, and an interfacial bonding layer therebetween; and, saturating the base layer, the interfacial bonding layer, and the friction modifying surface layer with a binder.

A friction material comprises a base and a friction generating layer penetrating into and integral with the base. The base presents a bonding surface. The friction generating layer presents a friction generating surface facing opposite the bonding surface of the base. The friction generating layer comprises fibrillated nanofibers, friction adjusting particles, and elastomeric particles. A curable resin is dispersed throughout the friction generating layer and the base of the friction material.

A wet running friction lining includes a plastic matrix, which contains at least one filler. The wet running friction lining contains bentonite as a filler.

A method for producing a multi-layered wet friction material includes providing a bottom layer, providing a top layer produced independently of the bottom layer from different materials, and bonding the bottom layer to the top layer. The bottom layer and the top layer may be produced from different formulations and supplied as raw papers. A formulation of the top layer may include twenty to sixty percent (20%-60%) filler, ten to forty percent (10%-40%) wood pulp, five to ten percent (5%-10%) aramid, and twenty-five to thirty-five percent (25%-35%) phenolic resin. A formulation of the bottom layer may include ten to fifty percent (10%-50%) filler, ten to forty percent (10%-40%) wood pulp, five to ten percent (5%-10%) aramid, five to fifteen percent (5%-15%) carbon, and twenty-five to thirty-five percent (25%-35%) phenolic resin.

A method of making a wet friction material includes coating a first outer surface of a cellulose layer with a friction coating; placing a matrix of fibers and filler particles on a second outer surface of the cellulose layer; and saturating the matrix of fibers and filler particles with a binder and curing the binder to join the matrix of fibers and filler particles together to form a wet friction material base layer and to join wet friction material base layer to the second outer surface of the cellulose layer.

A method that includes winding a composite fabric around a mandrel to form a plurality of layers defining an annulus extending along a central longitudinal axis, where the composite fabric includes a plurality of elongate axial fibers extending substantially in an axial direction relative to the longitudinal axis and a plurality of elongate circumferential fibers extending substantially in a circumferential direction relative to the longitudinal axis; and introducing, into at least a portion of the plurality of layers, a plurality of radial fibers extending substantially in the radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis, where the plurality of radial fibers mechanically bind one or more adjacent layers of the plurality of layers.

A fiber preform defining an annulus extending along a central longitudinal axis. The fiber preform includes a plurality of layers extending in an axial direction and a circumferential direction relative to the longitudinal axis. Each layer of the plurality of layers includes a plurality of elongate fibers. The plurality of elongate fibers include a plurality of elongate axial fibers extending substantially in the axial direction and a plurality of elongate circumferential fibers extending substantially in the circumferential direction. The fiber preform also includes a plurality of radial fibers extending substantially in the radial direction. The plurality of radial fibers mechanically bind one or more adjacent layers of the plurality of layers. At least 40% of the plurality of elongate fibers extend substantially in the axial direction.

A friction pad including a friction pad body including an annular base defining an aperture down a central axis, and first and second opposing major surfaces, where the friction pad body includes a low friction material, and where at least one of the major surfaces includes a plurality of grooves adapted to retain lubricant.