Ceramic Brake Discs
Ceramic brake discs are friction-brake rotors made from a ceramic composite, commonly carbon-fibre-reinforced silicon carbide in high-performance road-car systems.
How they differ from metal discs
The composite construction can combine low mass with high resistance to heat and wear. Reducing disc mass also reduces unsprung and rotating mass. The complete brake still depends on matched pads, calipers, cooling, control, and operating temperature, so the material name alone does not guarantee a particular stopping distance or pedal feel.
Ceramic discs are distinct from carbide-coated discs. A carbide-coated disc normally retains a cast-iron substrate beneath a hard surface layer; a carbon-ceramic disc uses a ceramic-composite rotor body. Purchase price, repair cost, noise, cold response, impact tolerance, and service-life assumptions depend on the specific system and use.
Regenerative braking can reduce routine friction-brake work in an EV, but ceramic discs must still handle stops and conditions where regeneration is limited or unavailable.
For the complete relationship between friction brakes and regenerative braking, see Brake Systems.