Abstract: The specification describes a method and a system for measuring the wear of a disk of composite ceramic material of a disk brake. The method comprises the following operations: measuring the temperature (T) of the disk at a predetermined frequency (f), calculating a wear increment (delta i) as a function of the measured temperature (T) at every temperature measurement, summing the calculated wear increments (delta i) comparing the sum of the wear increments with a predetermined limiting wear index (i lim) and signalling the eventual overstepping of the limiting wear index (i lim).

Abstract: A shaped composite material for braking applications can be produced by a method comprising the steps of; a) providing a mixture comprising bundles of filaments constituted substantially by carbon and having lengths no greater than 30 mm and an organic binder in a mould of the said shape and, at the same time, incorporating in the mixture a plurality of reinforcing fibres which extend along the shape in a manner such as to prevent the propagation of cracks, b) forming the mixture comprising the reinforcing fibres to produce a semi-finished product, c) subjecting the semi-finished product to a first firing at a temperature such as substantially to bring about pyrolysis of the organic binder and to a second firing in the presence of silicon.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pad (1) for disk brakes, comprising a plate (3) for supporting a friction material (2), characterized in that the plate (3) is made substantially of a composite ceramic material or of a composite powder-metallurgical material. The pad (1) has excellent lightness whilst its strength remains unchanged. Moreover the pad (1) advantageously enables the transmission of heat towards the piston to be reduced.