Ceramics are often known for their high performance in automotive sectors. Ranging from ceramic coating to brakes, it has its place in every prime part of today’s vehicle. Automotive ceramics has become an integral part of modern automobile manufacturing and usage. Let’s talk about automotive ceramic and its current significance.
Ceramics and its significance in automotive industry
Advanced automotive designs would require higher performance ceramics to obtain superior functional properties. These are materials ensuring robustness and reliability. Automotive Ceramics are known to be cost effective when compared with metals and plastics. The thermal and electrical properties of ceramics have been useful for the manufacture of components in a vehicle.
Ceramic Coatings
The car enthusiast of today is investing so much of money to offer advanced protection to their automobiles. This has paved way for the manufacturing and usage of ceramic coatings. Ceramic coatings are applied on the surface of the car to increase its aesthetics and looks. Ceramic coating upon drying creates a bond between the car paint and forms a protective layer.
What does ceramic coating do?
Ceramic coatings are majorly made of silicon dioxide. A crystalline layer is formed due to the presence of SiO2 in automobile coating. This coating elevates the overall appearance of vehicles. The hydrophobic layer formed on the surface protect the vehicle from the harshest weather, scratch and tear and wear.
Ceramic coating also ensures enhanced UV protection by the usage of titanium. On top of it, polysiloxanes provide adhesion and flexibility. In addition, the solvents ensure spread ability and uniform distribution on the surface.
Best Ceramic coating for cars
- “Carbon force” of chemical Guys is one among the top ceramic coatings used for cars. It comes with three application pads with an instruction in the black box. Carbon force ceramic coating has a gel like consistency which is viscous in nature. It evaporates within three to 4 hours of application and offers thickest coating in comparison to the competitors.
- Graphene Ceramic Coating Adam’s Polishes has a consistency almost like syrup. The standard Kit also has a surface preparation liquid and a graphene Polish boost spray. The drying time is three to four hours. Once cured Adam’s Polishes offer a grippy feel.
- Graphene ceramic coating Adam’s polishes advanced doesn’t require an applicator. The cotton can be applied by using microfiber cloth. Noticeably graphene ceramic coating advanced is thinner in comparison with the other coating materials. The liquid dries within one or two minutes and in 24 hours of curing offers superb finish.
- Cerakote’s ceramic paint sealant (rapid) is typically the cheapest of all the ceramic coatings available in the market. It has a watery like texture and comes with a micro fibre cloth and sealant spray.
Ceramic sensors
Ceramic material is a boon in the field of advanced monitoring in automotive industry. For example. the monitoring in the tire lets the driver know if there is a fluctuation in the tire pressure. The important property of the ceramic sensors are they are capable of withstanding harsh environments. They are also lightweight and resists heat.
Ceramic sensors operate under wide range and are generally corrosion resistant and often has a greater life span. Factors such as humidity, vibration, noise etc. doesn’t pose a threat to ceramic sensors. Ceramic sensors also offer peak engine performance by monitoring the oxygen level in the combustion chamber. The most common sensors are oxygen sensors, knock censors, level sensors and parking distance sensors.
Next generation vehicle components
The advancements in automotive ceramics have invariably improved the heat management techniques in automobiles. It has increased the efficiency of batteries and motors and reduced heating problems. In the next generation vehicle, Ceramics can be used as Cooling components for lithium-ion batteries.
Yttrium stabilized zirconia, an advanced ceramic are used as pump components such as injector for fuels. YSZ and 96 percentage of alumina, since they retain their form at higher temperature forms mechanical parts.
Zirconia is also used as insulating component in the combustion chamber of the automobiles. Zirconia offers lesser thermal conductivity and higher thermal expansion coefficient. Wherever superior thermal insulation is favorable zirconia finds a place in automobile industry.
What are brake pads? What are brake pads made of?
Brake pads are one such integral component used in automobiles which is prominent. It stops the machine. Brake pads are good if it creates lesser friction and result in lesser wear and tear for tires. Brake pads can be of different types which is covered in subsequent sections.
Types of brake pads
Ceramic brake pads
Ceramic brake pads offer sustained friction. With appreciable higher thermal conductivity ceramic brakes are often the integral part of high-end super cars. They are known to offer the harshest stops possible which ensures grip and control of the machine. Ceramic brake pads also offer little to no noise upon usage and they produce lesser dust on degradation.
Ceramic brake pads also cover a wide range of temperature. They are high in terms of cost when comparing with the global value of brake pads. Ceramic brake pads are often choice in high end machines due to their economic value.
Semi Metallic Brake pads
Semi metallic brick pads are not fully metal and have only 30 to 70 percentage of metal in its composition. The metal components include steel, copper, iron and certain alloys and the nonmetal is generally graphite. Semi metallic brake pads are often a choice for high end machines or automobiles since they conduct less heat. Hence, they are basically known as performance driven brake pads.
Semi metallic brake pads are often noisy. Since they put more pressure on rotors, it gets degraded over time. The debris formed during degradation is also high in semi metallic brake pads in comparison to ceramic brakes.
Semi Metallic Brake Pads Or ceramic brake pads
- Ceramic brake pads are often useful for the harshest of breaking possible. They are generally lighter and produces less heat upon breaking. The handling of ceramic brakes becomes easy with light weightiness.
- Ceramic brakes are often termed expensive and is available in high end automotive machines. The advanced nature of the ceramic makes it expensive during manufacturing.
- The initial bite of ceramic brake pads is lesser than metallic brick pads.
- Metallic brake pads are comparatively heavier than that of ceramic brake pads.
- The weight reduction of ceramic brake pad is done in a view of increasing the performance for raising cars whereas metallic brick pads are used for domestic breaking.
Carbon Ceramic Brake pads
These are performance driven ceramic brick pads which offer lesser degradation and are lightweight in nature. Carbon ceramic brake pads always excel in performance when compared with conventional metallic brakes. They are made up of fibers of carbon and ceramic in its body. They offer an energy intensive breaking and can work at 1000 degree Celsius.
Some cars using carbon ceramic brick pads are Lamborghini gt2 Porsche and 488g 2b Ferrari
Conclusion
The contribution of automotive ceramic in the regime of automobiles has been pivotal in ensuring competitive performance in the market. Numerous products have been introduced since the usage of ceramic in automobile industry. The article has been a run through on the different automotive ceramic products available of benefit.