from the friction compositions of this invention the aramid fibers may be continuous filaments staple fibers or chopped fibers the latter being of relatively uniform length of from about 1 8 34 to 2 34 in length the chopped fibers may also be crimped for example in clutch facings made according to the invention the use of aramid yarn composed of continuous filaments is preferred on the other hand staple fibers and chopped fibers are especially useful in the manufacture of disc brake pads in addition to aramid fibers the friction materials of this invention include a cement composition comprising heat hardenable resin vulcanizable elastomer and friction modifiers the heat hardenable or thermosetting resin may be of the phenolic type such as the phenol aldehydes examples of which are phenol formaldehyde resorcinol formaldehyde phenol cresol formaldehyde and phenol furfural resins if desired such resins may have been rendered oil soluble by reaction with linseed or cashew nut oil a preferred phenolic resin is a phenol formaldehyde resin other suitable thermosetting resins include epoxy resins epoxidized phenolic resins melamine formaldehyde resins and the like the vulcanizable elastomer in the cement may be natural rubber or a synthetic elastomer such as neoprene butadiene styrene butadiene acrylonitrile isoprene acrylate rubber the more recently developed hydrocarbon elastomers comprising a copolymer of ethylene propylene and a third monomer such as dicylopentadiene which provides unsaturation for curing and the like and especially those elastomeric materials which are curable or vulcanizable by reaction to a set stage by peroxide or through sulfur linkages the elastomer containing cement of course will also include well known vulcanizing and stabilizing agents the cement composition preferably contains conventional friction modifiers which ordinarily comprise particulate inorganic materials such as clay silica alumina cryolite.