Dr. Trinh Van Dung in Ho Chi Minh City Polytechnic University has researched and successfully made the brake pads from cashew nut shell oil, saving fuel and limiting damage to the environment.

Vietnam, the standard long brake pads are made from phenol-formaldehyde resin (PF), amiant crizotil (accounting for 30-70%) and other additives. Brake is an important part of the brake system of road vehicles, but are damaged or need replacing.

PF resin as brake pads from reaching the required high mechanical properties, but on impact, reducing the wear, thermal, waterproof, flexible, resistant to low temperatures.Besides, in 1986, Environmental Protection Agency banned the use of asbestos brake crizotil to produce, because it causes lung cancer is bad for health and environmental impact.

From July 12-2004, Dr. Trinh Van Dung, Research Center Petrochemical Filters-City University of Technology, has chosen implementation technology research and manufacturing equipment to create friction between powder particles and oil shell things to make brake pads for road vehicles.

By studying the composition of cashew nut shell, the authors found that cashew nut shell oil mixture of alkyl phenol is not natural, it is viscous liquid, reddish brown, slightly soluble in water, insoluble in alcohol and ether ... Chemical composition of cashew nut shell oil is Cardanol, Cardol, 2-Methyl Cardol and polymers thereof, should nature just like phenol has nature as a mixture of dry or oil.

From these studies, Dr. Trinh Van Dung took advantage of this physical and chemical properties of cashew nut shell oil to produce the curing resin and friction material used to brake the brakes. Especially authors have studied manufacturing equipment stir two screw back in the horizontal fit to produce the friction. This device can function as both mixing and grinding products, should avoid the adhesion of the mixture. At the same time break the product covered outside layer of solid particles make reactions occur faster and more thoroughly.

4-2006 to December, the author has created a product prototype and has been introduced in the scientific council of DOST HCMC. Dr. Phan Minh Tan, deputy director of the Department commented: "This is research in the field of domestic raw materials used should be the direction fits the general trend."