In　order　to　prepare　ceramic　brake　linings　with　higher　friction　performance　and　lower　cost,　combinatorial　friction　materials　research　was　conducted.　Raw　materials　used　were　screened　by　four　criteria.　Latin　square　coupled　with　Golden　Section　approach　was　utilized　for　experimental　formulations　design.　Sensitivity　series　and　comprehensive　index　of　raw　materials　obtained　from　the　relational　grade　analysis　were　used　to　rank　the　influence　of　each　ingredient　on　friction　performance.　The　evaluating　merit　of　each　formulation　received　from　the　fuzzy　overall　merits　method　was　utilized　to　judge　the　best　formulation.　Both　comprehensive　index　and　evaluating　merit　are　two　novel　parameters　established　and　applied　to　the　multi-objective　optimization　of　friction　material　formulations.　Optimization　of　ceramic　friction　formulations　was　implemented　in　three　phases:　(a)　screen　out　the　optimal　one　from　the　initial　nine　formulations　in　terms　of　their　friction　characteristics;　(b)　according　to　the　comprehensive　evaluation　index,　the　volume　fraction　of　the　most　advantageous　ingredient　for　friction　performance　was　increased　and　the　most　disadvantageous　one　was　decreased　correspondingly;　and　(c)　the　volume　fraction　of　binder　was　varied　and　other　ingredients＇　amounts　were　also　changed　proportionally.　Eventually,　the　best　one　was　obtained　after　performing　16　formulations.　(c)　2006　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.