Carbon-Ceramic Discs (full name: carbon fiber-reinforced ceramic composite brake discs) are high-performance braking components. Thanks to their unique material properties and structural design, they are widely used in high-end automobiles, racing cars, and other fields. Their core advantages and performance are mainly reflected in the following aspects:
The base material of carbon-ceramic discs is a composite of ceramics (usually silicon carbide, etc.) and carbon fiber. Ceramics themselves have extremely high hardness (Mohs hardness up to 9, close to that of diamonds), and with the reinforcing effect of carbon fiber, their wear resistance far exceeds that of traditional cast iron or steel brake discs.
- Ordinary cast iron brake discs may need replacement after just a few thousand kilometers under intense driving or frequent use; in contrast, the service life of carbon-ceramic discs can exceed 100,000 kilometers. Even the carbon-ceramic discs of some racing cars or supercars can last for the entire service life of the vehicle, significantly reducing replacement frequency and maintenance costs.
During braking, friction between brake pads and discs generates a lot of heat (temperatures can easily exceed 600°C during intense driving, and even exceed 1,000°C in racing scenarios). Traditional metal brake discs are prone to thermal fade (i.e., reduced braking efficiency and "soft" brakes) at high temperatures, and may even deform or crack due to overheating.
- Carbon-ceramic discs have extremely strong high-temperature resistance, with an upper working temperature limit of over 1,500°C. Their physical properties remain stable at high temperatures, and braking efficiency hardly decreases due to heat accumulation. They can maintain stable braking force during sustained intense driving (such as track racing or downhill mountain driving), greatly improving safety.
The density of ceramics and carbon fiber is much lower than that of cast iron (carbon-ceramic discs have a density of about 2.8g/cm³, while cast iron is about 7.2g/cm³). Therefore, carbon-ceramic discs weigh only 1/2 to 1/3 of cast iron discs of the same size.
- Lightweight directly reduces the vehicle’s "unsprung mass" (weight under the suspension, such as wheels and brakes), reducing suspension load, improving acceleration and deceleration response speed, and enhancing steering agility. Additionally, reducing the overall vehicle weight helps lower fuel consumption or power consumption (especially important for new energy performance vehicles).
Traditional cast iron brake discs are susceptible to rust due to erosion by rainwater, salt, acidic and alkaline substances on the road. After long-term use, an oxide layer may form on the surface, affecting braking fit and stability.
- The ceramic matrix of carbon-ceramic discs has extremely strong chemical stability and does not react with water, salt, oil stains, etc. They hardly rust or corrode, and can maintain surface flatness and stable braking performance even in harsh environments such as humidity and snowy conditions (where salt is spread for de-icing).
Metal brake discs tend to produce black metallic dust during friction (which adheres to wheel hubs, affecting appearance) and may generate harsh noise due to frictional vibration at high temperatures.
- When carbon-ceramic discs rub against dedicated brake pads (usually ceramic or metal-based composites), they produce very little dust, making wheel hubs easier to keep clean. Meanwhile, the damping properties of the composite material reduce frictional vibration, significantly lowering braking noise and improving driving quietness.
Although carbon-ceramic discs excel in high-temperature scenarios, they can quickly reach effective braking status at low temperatures (such as the initial cold start phase). Unlike metal discs, which rely on "preheating" to perform at their best, they offer a more linear and stable braking feel during daily urban driving.
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