Mercedes-Benz Stops With Ceramics

Mercedes-Benz has developed new braking technology that utilizes technical, stress-resistant ceramics. Upon request, the automaker will install in a new vehicle an AMG high-performance braking system, which uses composite brake discs.

eMercedesBenz, a Mercedes-Benz blog, describes the AMG high-perfomance braking system as sporting,

ventilated, grooved and perforated brake discs all-round in size 390 x 36 millimetres at the front and 360 x 26 millimetres at the rear ensure excellent deceleration performance. Brake discs in race-tested composite technology are installed at the front axle, with the grey cast iron discs radially and axially floating, and fixed to an aluminium bowl via stainless steel connections. This sophisticated technology ensures highly efficient heat conduction, and therefore outstanding fade-resistance even with a highly dynamic style of driving.

They go on to say that the optional ceramic composite braking system--labeled “AMGCarbon Ceramic” uses discs fashioned from carbon-fiber and reinforced by ceramics in a vacuum at 1700 degrees Celsius. The resulting brake disc is extremely pressure- and stress-resistant, which allows for a markedly decreased braking distance. Not only that, but the composite ceramic disks are 40% lighter than cast iron brake discs and allow for a more direct steering response while driving the car.

This is yet another great use of technical ceramics. It’s almost amazing how designers and engineers are only lately using ceramic materials for such diverse applications calling for extreme heat- and stress-resistance. Historically, the entry cost of working with ceramics has been high, but as manufacturing processes and materials decrease in price, ceramic technologies are being adopted at a high rate, passing on a great value and quality proposition to the consumer.