Abstract: A method for producing a ceramic coating on the surface of an aluminum alloy substrate by means of plasma electrolytic oxidation may include immersing the substrate as an electrode together with a counter-electrode in an alkaline electrolytic aqueous solution. The method may also include the step of applying an electrical potential sufficient to generate spark discharges on the surface of the substrate for a predefined period of treatment time so as to lead to the formation of the coating. The coating may be aluminum oxides and oxides of any alloying agents of the alloy. The electrolytic aqueous solution may have from 9 to 14 g/l of Na2SiO3, from 2.3 to 2.8 g/l of K3PO4, not less than 5 g/l of Na2WO4·2H20, from 0.4 to 1.5 g/l of Na3AlF6, and NaOH at a concentration such that the electrolytic solution has a pH between 11.8 and 12.0, and a conductivity between 9.5 and 10.5 mS/cm.

Abstract: A method and device for detecting and providing braking assessment information indicative of a particulate emission from a vehicle braking system involves determining, upon a braking event, one or more physical quantities related to the particulate emission caused by the braking event based on detection of at least one physical quantity detected from the one or more physical quantities performed by respective detection means provided in the vehicle. The method and device may also include calculating, by an algorithm or mathematical assessment model, stored and executable in a computer, at least one braking assessment index, based on the one or more determined physical quantities. The braking assessment index being representative of a particulate emission amount by the vehicle braking system upon the braking event, and providing a user with braking assessment information related to the calculated braking assessment index, by a user interface.

Abstract: A disk-brake disk with air cooling comprises a bell (2), an annular braking band (4), coupling means (6, 9, 61, 68, 33, 34) between the bell and the braking band, and ventilation means. In order to cool the disk effectively without the use of complex structures, the ventilation means comprise a plurality of fins (68a) which project from the plane of at least one of the braking surfaces of the annular braking band (4) in the vicinity of the inner edge of the band.