TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BRAKE PADS

Since the use of asbestos was prohibited, all manufacturers of brake pads have been faced with the problem of maintaining the coefficient of friction constant at all temperatures.
Years of research have given ROESCH vast experience in the field of materials that are resistant to high temperatures, exploiting the technology developed in the fields of motor racing and aviation, and the problem of asbestos was solved before its prohibition.
Instead of using this toxic material, ROESCH has always preferred carbon fibre and, more recently, ceramic material, which have been constantly developed and improved with modifications to suit specific functions.
However, these materials are not the main ingredient of the compound, but simply one of its components. Brake pads for road use cannot be compared with the all-carbon pads used in Formula 1, which are fully efficient only at high temperatures and whose friction varies with their temperature. ROESCH brake pads are efficient right from the first touch of the brake pedal, and therefore fully compliant with current safety legislation.

ROESCH brake pads are produced by moulding a compound of various elements such as Kevlar* with organic and inorganic fibres which form the structure of the pad and are efficient at low temperatures, and then adding carbon-ceramic fibres which stabilize the friction coefficient at high temperatures, thanks to their rapid heat dissipation. Kevlar* also makes the structure of the pad extraordinarily strong, resulting in a product with a constant composition and consistent performance and, at the same time is highly resistant to fracture.
Although extremely hard, Kevlar* is non-abrasive, so that the brake pad is far less aggressive against the disks than other materials. During the pressing process, all the various fibres become woven together in a perfectly tight bond, so that they cannot become detached from each other or from the steel plate due to fatigue or the stress caused by friction.
The mixture is completed by a highly-ductile compound, which also contains rubber-based substances and lubricants, which constantly adapts to the surface of the disk, thus preventing local overheating, variations in the coefficient of friction, vibration and noise.
Another extremely important aspect is that all these elements are in the form of microgranules, to which an exclusive production process gives a special shape that, after moulding to the steel plate, creates microscopic are pockets within the structure of the pad. This makes it possible to dissipate even more heat, since the temperature is distributed uniformly over the entire surface of the pad, which also prevents fading. In addition, these microscopic air pockets make the braking surface porous and thus maintain grip, so that the pad is as good as new each time the brakes are applied. Naturally, this production process requires highly-sophisticated machinery and precise pressures, without which the structural characteristics of the compound would be impossible.

The result of this process is a product whose main characteristic is the stability of the coefficient of friction at all temperatures. This translates into progressive deceleration either when braking just once or repeatedly, without any sudden increase in grip, which would reduce control of the vehicle, nor sudden lack of grip, which would be even more dangerous. The sensitivity of the brake pedal, too, is increased, so that the vehicle can be slowed gradually and under full control.
With ROESCH brake pads, the temperature generated by the braking system is 30% lower than with other pads - and it is often difficult to ascertain the maximum resistance because the heat is dissipated so efficiently. And lower temperatures reduce the expansion and thus vibration of the discs.

*Kevlar? is a registered trade mark owned by Dupont?.

XC-4 (carbon-ceramic) - temperature 900°

XC-4 is a totally new composite material that has undergone thorough testing. The compound has been developed exclusively for use with road vehicles; with its coefficient of friction of 0.45, XC-4 offers the maximum comfort in terms of silence, reduced consumption and immediate response without the need for pre-heating and, especially, more compact design than is possible with conventional materials.
The main distinguishing feature of these products is the sensitivity they offer when braking, which assures perfect control of the vehicle and a constant rate of deceleration. This is made possible by the stability of the coefficient of friction and by the soft initial attack, which prevents the shifting of about 70% of the mass of the vehicle onto the front axle when braking, distributing the mass equally between both axles. At this point, the vehicle tends remain level and, when the pressure on the brake pedal is increased, the rate of deceleration becomes so high that the sensation is that the vehicle is bogged down by sand. In addition, the use of these compounds totally changes the sensitivity of the brake pedal so that the precise force required by the driving situation can be applied.
The use of carbon-ceramic, which almost completely replaces the conventional, heavier metals, assures high performance at lower temperatures, reducing the braking time and overheating of the discs.
The compound is modified for the various types of pads fitted to different types of vehicles. This means that they are ideal not only for high-performance competition cars, but also small utility vehicles or luxury saloon cars.
These pads are not subject to overheating or vitrification, and the running-in times are extremely short.

XCC-7 (carbon-ceramic) - temperatures above 1,100°

XCC-7 is a carbon-ceramic compound of the very latest generation, and is unique on the market. It has a high friction coefficient, with peaks of up to 0.72, made possible by the use of a large quantity of innovative materials, such as aramidic fibres and components in ceramic and carbon, which maintain a constant braking force without variations or fading; even at very high temperatures, the heat generated is dissipated quickly, thus preventing overheating of the entire braking system, completely eliminating the fading effect and the formation of vapour locks in the brake oil.
The use of the correct components in creating the compound assures that the pads are long-lasting and do not cause rapid wear of the brake discs.
In view of their high friction coefficient, these products are intended for use exclusively in high-performance competition cars.