A presentation on the use of Lightweight Carbon Fibre Reinforced Wheels and how to overcome their thermal callenges. This presentation was first delivered at the MIA Motorsport Engineering & Technology Show, 11 & 12 October 2023, by Cayl Saga, Development Engineer at Zircotec.
Carbon composite wheels are increasingly being considered for automotive applications to deliver weight reduction.They are typically 25% lighter than aluminium forged wheels and deliver a consequencial reduction in rotational momentum.
A major challenge comes from the impact of heat on the carbon composite. The primary concern here is the high temperatures and potential heat-soak associated with vehicle braking systems particularly during heavy braking, and the risk that this heat might damage the carbon composite and thus impact the structural integrity of the wheel.
Zircotec's thermal barrier coatings, i.e. ThermoHold(R) for Carbon Composites presents a solution to this problem.
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