Chassis Brakes International and MANN+HUMMEL have signed a strategic partnership agreement to develop brake systems with an add-on particle filter to reduce particulate emissions from passenger-car brakes.

Vehicle traffic is regarded as one of the primary sources of particle-based air pollution in cities and originates from internal combustion engine exhaust emissions, as well as from mechanically produced particulates from tires and brakes.

Chassis Brakes International and MANN+HUMMEL have signed a strategic partnership agreement to develop brake systems with an add-on particle filter to reduce particulate emissions from passenger-car brakes.

President and General Manager OE at MANN+HUMMEL Kai Knickmann noted that although brake emissions aren’t regulated, the two companies are committed to seriously addressing this topic in the near future.

Knickmann said, “The robust housing of a filter fitted close to the brake caliper will prevent particle emissions directly at the source from which brake dust passes into the ambient air and will be capable of reducing particulate emissions by up to 80 percent.”

Bernd Schemer, Chassis Brakes International global vice president of Sales, Engineering and Project Management, said the system will be available for cars equipped with internal combustion engines, as well as for hybrid and electric vehicles.

Schemer noted, “Joining MANN+HUMMEL’s global expertise in filtration systems with Chassis Brakes’ long-standing experience in foundation brakes is the key to successfully developing such a systems solution.”

MANN+HUMMEL’s brake-dust particle filters are compact, recyclable and are designed to have no impact on overall brake performance, according to Knickmann.

After MANN+HUMMEL first presented the technology in 2017 at an early stage of the development process, successful tests have confirmed its effectiveness.

The successfully completed  test in a wind tunnel simulated a drive down a mountain, demonstrating temperature resistance. Snow and water also showed no effect on the filter. The objective of capturing 80 percent of the brake dust particles has been achieved according to tests to date. MANN+HUMMEL also assumes a service interval that approximates that of changing the brake pads. The developers are also very optimistic that they can achieve a product weight of under 500 grams.

Thanks to its robust housing directly next to the brake caliper, the filter acts directly at the point of production to prevent the escape of brake dust particles into the environment, especially in city traffic with a lot of braking. The filter medium is a material resistant to temperature and corrosion that efficiently filters the different particle sizes. Catching particles directly at the point of production can also significantly reduce dirt buildup on alloy rims and the time-consuming removal of embedded brake dust. For many drivers, that has incredible value. For passenger cars, the brake dust particle filter can also be used as a colorful styling element.

In addition, the new system solution under development will:

• take up no additional space,
• not consume energy (passive system),
• be customizable by color, brand identification and shape, and
• be easy to maintain based on normal brake-system service intervals.

Chassis Brakes Global CEO Dr.Thomas Wuensche pointed out that Chassis Brakes International is dedicated to developing cleaner and more environmentally friendly braking solutions such as its disc brake ZOHe AST™ (Active ShapeTechnology), an innovation supporting the reduction of CO2 emissions, and its Smart Brake System Solution which will eliminate the use of hydraulic fluids.

“We believe that our cooperation with MANN+HUMMEL will help us to foster innovations to provide cleaner braking solutions to our customers,”  Wuensche said.