When it comes to making cars more energy-efficient getting their weight down is one of the best things you can do. Unfortunately, the cast iron brake rotors currently used in most vehicles are quite heavy. Soon, ceramic-coated aluminum rotors may be a cost-effective lightweight alternative for economy cars.
Aluminum expands three to four times more than ceramics. Ceramic coating can’t be applied to the aluminum rotors in one continuous piece. If it was, it would crack as the aluminum beneath it expanded. The solution comes down to soldering the ceramic onto the aluminum in the form of individual tiles laid side-by-side.
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