Why Do Overloaded Brakes Emit Flames?

[James889]

Hello,

I saw this clip:

And i simply wonder what is the stuff that's burning?

Fire is a chemical reaction between oxygen, heat and some combustible material.

So shouldn't the brakes just be glowing red hot?

 

[Filip Larsen]

I'm no expert, but I would guess that the Airbus uses brakes that, when overloaded, shed heat using some kind of ablative materials and that it is this material you see burn away initially at least.