Research Report on Aircraft Brake Components and the Carbon/Carbon Composite Materials Industry for Aerospace Applications

　　I. Basic Overview of the Industry

　　Powder metallurgy composites are materials fabricated by combining traditional powder metallurgy techniques with advanced composite material technologies. This manufacturing process not only leverages the advantages of powder metallurgy—such as minimal machining, low cost, and high material utilization—but also endows materials with high performance, multifunctionality, and exceptional strength and toughness. It represents an enhancement and evolution of conventional powder metallurgy technology. At present, the powder metallurgy composite industry has emerged as one of the promising new industries in the field of advanced materials processing, with its products widely used in aerospace, transportation (automobiles, trains, ships, etc.), petroleum, chemical engineering, energy, and construction machinery.

　　Carbon/carbon composites are also based on powder metallurgy technology and represent a new type of material that integrates structural and functional properties. They boast a host of outstanding characteristics, including low density, high specific strength, excellent frictional performance, high‑temperature resistance, and thermal shock resistance, making them widely used in aerospace, aviation, and other fields. Aircraft brake pads are one of the primary application areas for carbon/carbon composites; currently, more than 60 aircraft models worldwide employ carbon/carbon composite brake pads, accounting for roughly 60% of the annual consumption of carbon/carbon composites. Nozzles and other hot components in aero­engines constitute another key application of these materials in the aviation sector. In the aerospace domain, carbon/carbon composites are extensively utilized in ultra‑high‑temperature regions such as the leading edges of space shuttle wings and the tail nozzles of rocket engines. Beyond this, carbon/carbon composites hold great potential for applications in mechanical manufacturing, transportation, and chemical engineering—for example, as hot‑pressing molds, heating elements in vacuum furnaces and single‑(or multi‑)crystal silicon furnaces, thermal insulation materials, fasteners, automotive and railway brake pads, heat exchangers, and artificial bones.

　　Aircraft brake pads and carbon/carbon composite materials for aerospace applications are widely used in the aircraft braking industry. Globally, high‑performance aircraft brake pad materials have long been dominated by developed countries. For a prolonged period, China has relied on imports for large commercial aircraft brake pads, not only subjecting itself to external control in terms of supply and pricing, but also facing technological barriers imposed by imported products that have hindered the development of China’s indigenous aerospace industry. Domestically, aircraft brake pads and carbon/carbon composites for aerospace—representing the nation’s scientific and technological level and overall strength—are designated by the state as key industries for prioritized development. In recent years, these industries have experienced rapid growth and are expected to maintain a high growth rate for quite some time to come. Meanwhile, defense and military industrial products will increasingly focus on high‑tech, high‑performance solutions, with the state’s investment in this field growing year by year.

　　According to the China Securities Regulatory Commission’s “Guidelines for Industry Classification of Listed Companies” (revised in 2012), this industry falls under C30, the non-metallic mineral products industry.

　　Aircraft brake pads are broadly categorized into two main types: powder metallurgy aircraft brake pads and carbon/carbon composite aircraft brake pads. Installed on the aircraft wheel assembly, they are used during takeoff, landing, taxiing, turning, and parking—serving as Class A critical components of the aircraft alongside the aircraft engine, and providing an essential guarantee for the safe operation of the aircraft. The aircraft brake pad market is dominated by a small number of companies that possess internationally advanced technological capabilities. While some domestic firms are continuously achieving technological breakthroughs in their aircraft brake pad products, they are gradually replacing comparable foreign products thanks to their high performance and relatively competitive pricing.

　　Carbon/carbon composite materials for aerospace applications are primarily used in critical components of spacecraft rocket engines and are key materials that directly influence the engine’s main performance indicators.