ABSOLUTE BLACK brake pads GRAPHENpads Disc29 for SRAM Code | Motive | black
BRAKE PADS 2.0 - Absolute Black introduces the latest generation of brake pads.
Consistent braking performance is a key factor in how you ride your bike on the trail or in the bike park and how much fun you have. The key element for optimum braking performance is the temperature of the brake pads. Especially on long descents in the mountains, brake pads can overheat and no longer properly dissipate the heat generated to the surrounding area, resulting in inconsistent braking performance. This causes the pressure point of the brake lever to shift and you will automatically ride more slowly, which of course has a negative impact on riding enjoyment. The Absolute Black team has tackled this problem and taken a new approach from a materials research perspective. After 3 years of development, they are now presenting the specially developed GRAPHENpads - literally the brake pad 2.0! With the specially designed cooling fins and the use of modified carbon graphene as a coating for the backing plate and as a composite material for the brake pad, Absolute Black is setting a completely new benchmark for brake pads in cycling.
GRAPHEN - performance-enhancing and environmentally friendly
The innovative brake pad consists of a modified carbon, which is characterized by a two-dimensional structure and forms a pattern reminiscent of honeycombs. Graphene is one of the thinnest, lightest and most durable materials available. However, graphene is characterized by its extremely good thermal conductivity, which even exceeds the thermal conductivity of graphite. This means that graphene is already used in most brake pads for motor vehicles. But why is this new material replacing copper as an additional material in brake pads?
To understand this, it is important to understand how a brake pad for bikes is constructed. This basically consists of a fiber material (inorganic, organic or metallic fibers), a binder (e.g. a thermosetting polymer), a filler (various soft ceramic powders), one or more lubricants/friction modifiers (graphite or copper) and one or more abrasives (hard ceramic powders). The binder that binds all the components together has a very high coefficient of friction, which is why the use of lubricants is necessary to reduce the coefficient of friction and enable modulation of the brake. Due to its properties (less wear, good thermal conductivity and reduction of noise due to vibrations), copper quickly became one of the favorites when it came to the main components of brake pads. However, copper also has negative side effects that can have a serious impact on the environment. The braking process causes abrasion of copper particles on the brake pad, which are deposited as dust on roads and trails and ultimately end up in the groundwater. This increases the copper content of the groundwater, which can lead to damage to marine and freshwater organisms. The first US states have already strictly banned the use of copper in brake pads from 2025, and there will of course be similar regulations in Europe in the future. With their new GRAPHENpads, the Absolute Black team has developed a real alternative that optimizes braking performance while also protecting our environment.
Cooling fins
The patented, angled cooling fins ensure an even better air flow and constant cooling during braking, which should ultimately prevent pressure point wandering altogether. The special honeycomb pattern of the cooling fins has several significant advantages over conventional cooling fins. On the one hand, the surface area is increased by 40 percent, thus increasing the air flow, which is responsible for heat dissipation. Furthermore, due to the honeycomb pattern, the heat generated during the braking process is dissipated from the entire surface to the environment and not transferred from one cooling fin to the next, as is the case with conventional pads with cooling fins, whereby a large proportion of the heat remains in the brake pad, thus reducing - but not preventing - pressure point migration.
Technical data:
Pad material: modified graphene (carbon)
Backing plate material: Aluminum coated with graphene
Brake compatibility: SRAM Code R, RSC, Ultimate, Stealth (each from 2018) | Guide RE | Motive
Weight according to manufacturer: 33g
Weight when weighed: 32g (pair)
Scope of delivery:
1x ABSOLUTE BLACK brake pads GRAPHENpads Disc29 for SRAM Code | Motive | black, in elegant metal box
1x spring
SRAM Brake Pads Sinter Metal AVID/SRAM Code from 2011 | SRAM Guide RE | without accessoriesavailable from stock
SRAM Brake Pads Sintered Metal AVID/SRAM Code from 2011 | SRAM Guide RE | SRAM Motiveavailable from stock
