Scorching

To prevent running-in as much as possible, the pads are scorched. During the manufacturing of a brake pad, "scorching" is a process in which the brake pad is heated at high temperature without direct contact with the brake rotor. This step aims to activate certain organic binders in the brake pad and form chemical compounds that enhance the friction characteristics and ensure better brake pad performance.
The scorching process also helps to eliminate undesirable gaseous substances and prepares the brake pad for the actual conditions during braking.