AbsoluteBLACK GraphenPads Disc Brake Pads Campy/Magura Disc 30

Ceramic GRAPHENpads® are a completely new benchmark for the braking pad industry thanks to our unique approach to the design of backplate cooling fins, bespoke backplate coating with graphene as well as a completely new friction compound, which uses specially modified graphene instead of toxic copper. These pads fit Magura MT, Campagnolo brakes and more. GRAPHENpads® Won the prestigious IF DESIGN AWARD 2023.

Even though absoluteBLACK pads provide excellent performance and lifespan in all conditions, when cycling for a prolonged time (winter season for example) in very bad and highly abrasive conditions (thick mud, grit, wet sand) their lifespan will be reduced. AbsoluteBLACK use an organic-ceramic base friction compound which by definition wears faster than a metallic friction compound.

Brake pads are the single most important part of the bike, which determines how confidently you can descend. The key element to their optimum performance is to keep the temperature of the brake pads and the rotor as low as possible (ideally below 400C), especially on longer descends. The hotter the pads get, the faster they fade, which means they lose the ability to slow you down reliably when needed. Overheated pads lose braking consistency and behave differently each time you press the brake lever, which greatly diminishes your braking confidence, effectively making you ride much slower. This is why Shimano introduced cooling fins to disc pads in attempt to lower their operating temperature.

The ideal brake pad will have the same predictable braking power, initial braking bite and perfect modulation throughout a long descend. After 3 years of development, absoluteBLACK believe that they have achieved just that with absoluteBLACK GRAPHENpads®. The results of the machine tests and thermal imaging show that absoluteBLACK were able to reduce disc pad and rotor temperature by up to 35% vs competitors and completely eliminate brake fading.
Rotors are heated repeatedly to high temperatures exceeding 500°C, increasing the danger of softening of the rotor materials by tempering. Temper softening causes increase of wear and warping of the rotor and leads to reduced brake performance. For this reason it is extremely important to evacuate heat from the rotor-pad interface as fast as possible.

Due to the handmade nature of absoluteBLACK pads, a thicker coating layer on the leading and trailing edges of the backplate can occur. If you find that your GRAPHENpads don’t want to slot into the caliper easily, or when inserted don’t move freely, please remove them and sand the leading and trailing edges of the backplate, until installation or free movement is possible. You can contact absoluteBLACK Customer Service team for more information.

Even though absoluteBLACK pads provide excellent performance and lifespan in all conditions, when cycling for a prolonged time (winter season for example) in very bad and highly abrasive conditions (thick mud, grit, wet sand) their lifespan will be reduced. AbsoluteBLACK use an organic-ceramic base friction compound which by definition wears faster than a metallic friction compound.

THE KEY ELEMENTS OF GRAPHENPADS®

*First pads on the market containing specially modified graphene in their friction compound, which greatly improves braking performance, durability and heat transfer to the backplate.

* Thanks to the backplates being entirely covered in graphene heat dissipating coating, it was possible to achieve much greater heat transfer from the friction material to the cooling fins and at the same time, increase radiation of heat (IR spectrum) by over 20% (which is very significant).

* First pads in the market with patented, angled radiator fins for superior airflow and cooling. Angle cutting provides three major benefits.
1- increased overall surface of the radiator by 40% vs standard cutting methods.
2- significantly greater airflow compared to traditional radiators that increases convective heat dissipation
3 –most importantly, 45deg angle cutting makes all the surfaces radiate the heat away from the brake pad. Heat radiation (IR spectrum) is the highest in perpendicular direction to the surface so in a standard radiator, every fin is radiating its heat at a neighboring fin, keeping more heat in the element. AbsoluteBLACK pads radiate all the heat away from the back plate.

* To date, GRAPHENpads® are the only brake pads in the market that completely eliminate toxic copper, ahead of new regulations (copper brake dust is proven to be toxic to aquatic life hence new California regulation will ban use of copper from 2025)

* Extraordinary lifespan of the brake pads and rotors. According to absoluteBLACK own tests single set of pads lasted on average 8000km ( 4900 mi) in hilly terrain. Graphene in disc pad friction material also prolongs the life of rotors by embedding graphene particles into micropores of the rotor braking surface.

* They are produced in EU unlike majority of other pads on the market, which come from a single Taiwanese factory.

WHAT YOU WILL FEEL

* Predictability and power, allowing you to regain full control of your braking
* Better modulation and faster stopping
* Improved confidence when descending
* No brake fade, more consistency and reliable braking feel corner after corner, even on the most demanding descends.
* They are very quiet, even during long descends.
* They reduce fatigue of your hands due to greatly reduced brake lever force needed to achieve powerful braking compared to competition.

WHY THE MAJORITY OF PADS HAVE SIMILAR AVERAGE PERFORMANCE

The great majority of popular organic disc pads on the market are produced by just one Taiwanese company. Interestingly, they don’t develop braking compounds themselves but instead, source such formulas from elsewhere. Anyone can pick their braking compound from a short catalogue, then pick a color of the backing surface and just like that, they’ve created their own brand of braking pads. GRAPHENpad’s friction compound on the other hand, was developed with help from renowned European disc pads specialist with decades of experience and one-of-a-kind equipment, that allows for precise performance testing. Graphene is still a very new material, especially in friction brake compounds. Due to its very unique properties and years of testing, absoluteBLACK were able to develop a friction material like no other. In the automotive industry, where almost every major car maker has already filed several patent applications for friction compounds containing graphene, it’s clear to see that it is the future of braking pads. New regulations which start from 2025 will prohibit the use of copper powder in disc pads. Graphene is not only an excellent substitute to copper, but a major upgrade in terms of performance. AbsoluteBLACK are the first company in the bicycle industry offering graphene in the friction compound.