A woven (cotton) lining is made as a fabric belt impregnated with metal particles and polymerized.
These belts have flexibility, as required by band brakes. Molded linings typically use polymeric resin to bind a variety of powdered of powdered fillers of fibrous materials.
Brass or zinc chips are sometimes added to improve heat conduction and wear resistance and reduce scoring of the drum and disks. These materials are the most commonly used in drum brakes and the least costly.
Sintered metal pads are made of a mixture of copper or iron particles having friction modifiers molded then heated to blend the material.
They are the most costly but also the best suited for heavy-duty applications. Sintered metal-ceramic friction pads are similar, except that ceramic particles are added prior to sintering.