Photo: Porsche

Stuttgart, Germany - Dr. Ing. h. c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, has started series production of its Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) for the 911 Turbo. These innovative new brake discs made from carbon fibre reinforced silicon carbide have been developed by the sports car producer from Stuttgart in Germany in exclusive co-operation with SGL Carbon AG from Wiesbaden. They represent a major advance in car brake technology and set new standards, primarily as far as such decisive criteria as response, fading stability, weight and useful life are concerned. 

The Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake is the result of a project pooling the know-how Porsche holds as technological leader in the braking system field with the know-how SGL Carbon has developed as an experienced material specialist. 

The brake discs were produced in various designs on an exclusive individual basis and in small series over the past few months and were tested thoroughly in numerous tests at the SGL Carbon plant in Meitingen near Augsburg before it was possible to start series production now. Porsche expects that about 15 per cent of all 911 Turbos that leave the plant in Zuffenhausen will be equipped with PCCB in the near future. 

The new brake disc, which Porsche is using on all four wheels, is made from SIGRASIC, a fibre-reinforced ceramic material that has been specially optimised for this application by SGL Carbon. SIGRASIC is light and withstands extremely high temperatures. It succeeds at the same time in being both hard and resistant to fracture, i.e. it is not sensitive to heat shock and the effects of mechanical impact. This leads to maximum abrasion resistance and thus to a particularly long useful life of 300,000 kilometres or more. It goes without saying that the PCCB brake performs consistently well even when conditions are wet and demands are high, as can frequently be the case when sports cars are put through their paces. 

The new ceramic composite brake disc is perforated and internally ventilated, like the conventional metal brake disc. Its dimensions only differ slightly from the round discs made from grey cast iron too. When their weight is compared, however, it is immediately obvious that two different worlds are involved here. The ceramic brake disc weighs more than 50 per cent less. Above all, this means that the unsprung masses are reduced, as a result of which driving safety and comfort are improved even more. 

Porsche's partner SGL Carbon is the biggest manufacturer of carbon and graphite products in the world. The company has had many years of experience in the production of carbon fibres and composite materials. In connection with the start-up of production of the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake, SGL Carbon is planning to expand its production facilities in Meitingen (near Augsburg in Germany) and to increase the number of employees in the coming year. 

(August 23, 2000)