Brake oxidation : Carbon from brakes naturally combines with O2 from ambient air to become CO2. While oxidation occurs at very slow rate, it is accelerated by external factors such as high temp & catalytic pollution. This results in loss of carbon mass, softening & delamination
Thermal oxidation occurs due to exposure to high temperatures
Catalytic oxidation is generally caused by contact with deicing or cleaning fluids. The potassium or sodium coming from some aircraft and runway deicing fluids acts as a catalyst and further accelerates the oxidation
Arjun Singh
@chainsawrocks
Airline Pilot A320 | B737 | Flight Sim Enthusiast. (Views and comments are personal)