Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the production of a shaped composite material and the material obtained through that process. In particular it relates to a process for obtaining a disk of composite ceramic material for disc brakes in which the friction coefficient is varied by varying the composition of the surface layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a disc for disc brakes, comprising a support and a braking band suitable to cooperate with brake calipers in order to exert a braking action on a vehicle, said braking band comprising a shaped body extending around a symmetry axis and being laterally defined by braking surfaces, said braking band being made of composite material which can be obtained by the interaction of a mixture, comprising filament rovings, essentially consisting of carbon, which are randomly arranged and have sizes which are not greater than 30 mm, with silicon at a temperature sufficient to cause the melting of said silicon, characterized in that it comprises at least one strengthening ring in carbon-carbon material located near or at the cracking point.

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.