Carbon Ceramic Brakes | Carbon Fiber In Carbon Composite Brake Pads

To give a good understanding of why carbon Ceramic Brake Pads and rotors are so highly regarded, you need to look back on their history: ceramic materials were first used by space agencies such as NASA to protect the underside of its space shuttles from extreme heat. Ceramic brakes have roots in the aeronautical and rail industries and were later adopted by F1 cars and eventually manufacturers of performance vehicles.

Carbon composite brakes are typically made from materials such as silicon and carbon fiber, with other materials such as Kevlar also featuring in some instances. These fragmented materials (carbon fiber and silicon resin) are placed into molds and are subjected to over 44,000 pounds of pressure and heated to around 400 degrees Fahrenheit. This cools, is gradually reheated to 1,800+ degrees over a couple of days, and then cooled once more with silicon powder being added to the mix. It is then heated a third time at over 3,000 degrees for another day, this time in a vacuum. This process forms silicon carbide, bonding with the carbon fiber. The result is a product that is light, durable, and rather expensive, thanks to the material cost, time, and expertise required. As with any other braking components, there are certain advantages and disadvantages, and sometimes, a more basic metallic-based system will actually be more suitable for your needs.