An everyday guy, who's taking it in stride.

beautifullyengineered:

C/SiC Brakes are Beautifully Engineered

Carbon Fibre Reinforced Silicon Carbide

Carbon–carbon (abbreviated C/C) is a composite material consisting of carbon fibre reinforcement in a matrix of graphite. It was developed for the nose cones of intercontinental ballistic missiles, and is most widely known as the material for the nose cone and wing leading edges of the Space Shuttle. It has been used in the brake systems of Formula One racing cars since 1976; carbon–carbon brake discs and pads are a standard component of Formula One brake systems.

Carbon fibre-reinforced silicon carbide (C/SiC) is a development of pure carbon–carbon, and can be used in automotive applications, such as components of brake systems on high performance road cars, namely the brake disc and brake pads. C/SiC utilises silicon carbide with carbon fibre, and this compound is thought to be more durable than pure carbon–carbon.

Introduction and Advantages:

At the IAA in Frankfurt in 1999, the carbon-ceramic brake disk had its world premiere. The use of the high-tech material had revolutionized the brake technology: In comparison to the conventional grey cast iron brake disk the carbon-ceramic brake disk weighed round 50 per cent less reducing the unsprung mass by almost 20 kilograms. Further significant advantages are: improved brake response and fading data, high thermal stableness, no hot judder, excellent pedal feel, improved steering behavior, high abrasion resistance and thus longer life time and the advantage of avoiding almost completely brake dust.

The 2001 Porsche 911 GT2 was the first car to feature carbon-ceramic brakes.

Links:

• Video: “How it’s Made: Ceramic Brakes”
• Technical Data and Manufacturing
• Video: Formula 1 Brakes
• Video: Making Nissan GT-R Brakes at Brembo (in Japanese)