Ceramic composites in F1 cars

[giorgosmp4-20]

Apart from brakes and heat shields, in what other areas of a formula 1 car are ceramic composites being used?

[747heavy]

not sure brakes in F1 are what you normaly call ceramic composites.
But if they fit your definition for it, then the clutch discs are made from similar materials.

"Real" ceramic composites are used for LeMans and Rally Raid (Paris-Dakar) car clutches.

[riff_raff]

giorgosmp4-20,

According to 2010 FIA F1 reg. 15.1.1.22, monolithic ceramics are permitted in certain limited areas of the car. The only area I can think of offhand where they might be used are the CV joint rollers and races, which would likely be silicon nitride. However, ceramic "composite" materials (ie. metal matrix composites or MMC's) are mostly illegal.

The use of ceramic coatings is also permitted in other areas, such as the engine and transmission. Common coatings used would be titanium nitride or tungsten carbide (DLC type coatings).

Here's where you can review the F1 regulations yourself:

http://argent.fia.com/web/fia-public.ns ... 6-2010.pdf

Good luck.
riff_raff

[giorgosmp4-20]

Thank you both for your replies. (sorry for the late of my reply)

Riff_raff, in the exceptions section right after section 15.1.1.22, it mentions in the exceptions certain areas and materials for the car, such as adhesives etc but it also mentions brakes and clutches. Would that mean that ceramic composite materials could be used in these areas?

Thanks for the help so far,

giorgosmp4-20

[Edis]

Thank you both for your replies. (sorry for the late of my reply)

Riff_raff, in the exceptions section right after section 15.1.1.22, it mentions in the exceptions certain areas and materials for the car, such as adhesives etc but it also mentions brakes and clutches. Would that mean that ceramic composite materials could be used in these areas?

Thanks for the help so far,

giorgosmp4-20

Clutches and and brakes use carbonfibre in a carbon matrix as friction materials, not ceramic composites. Heat shields tend to be metallic, due to the heat reflective properties of metals or metalized polymerfoils.