Bosch Offers Eco-Friendly Copper-Free Brake Pads

In response to legislation requiring the reduction of copper in friction formulations, Bosch has announced the use of its first copper-free ceramic material in the premium-grade QuietCast line of braking products. Bosch provides full coverage for domestic, Asian and European cars, vans and SUVs with one out of every three vehicles on the road today using Bosch braking component content.

“This new material meets our highest performance standards and will be introduced in the first quarter of 2014, well ahead of the 2025 deadline,” said Robert Backode, director of Product Management, Automotive Aftermarket Brake Components, Robert Bosch LLC. “In fact, many of Bosch’s semi-metallic formulas already meet this 2025 requirement so, with this introduction, Bosch is well on the way to having our entire braking portfolio be compliant with this future regulation,” said Backode.

The automotive industry’s shift to low-copper content in braking products is a result of legislation passed in the states of California and Washington in 2010 that requires reduction of the use of copper to below five% (2021 low copper) and .5% (2025 no copper). This legislation is based on the grounds that each time a motorist applies the brakes, a bit of copper and other metals get deposited on the road and, when it rains, are washed into nearby streams and rivers – eventually harming aquatic life. Similar legislation has been introduced in Rhode Island, Oregon and New York.