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Friction materials for automotive brakes are known to exhibit a time-dependent tribological behavior. When examining these dynamic effects special demands are made on the measurement device: The influences of the brake system should be minimized and parameters like velocity, contact pressure and temperature should be controlled closely and independently. Furthermore, special test procedures need to be designed. This can ideally be achieved using a scaled tribometer like the High-Load-Tribometer at the Institute of Dynamics and Vibrations in Braunschweig. Former investigations [1] have shown that a kind of memory effect can occur for a low-met brake pad rubbing on a cast iron disk. A variation of the initial disk temperatures has revealed that a temporary increase of the coefficient of friction can occur at slightly elevated temperatures. This effect is memorized by the material as a certain procedure needs to be performed in order to achieve a regeneration.

For more than a decade, investigations of the surface topography and chemical behavior of the boundary layer have been performed. This is of great importance for the understanding of friction, as it provides valuable insights into the dynamic processes that influence the brake pad's performance. The adaption of the boundary layer to a new load condition is of particular interest because it allows for the identification and description of mechanisms that influence macroscopically-observable effects, and quantities such as the coefficient of friction. It is possible to determine time constants that describe this process of adaption. The investigations discussed in this paper combine tribometer tests and optical investigations at the same time. Therefore, the measured coefficient of friction can be related to the observed surface topography of the brake pad.