Ceramic pads usually have superior fade resistance when compared to semi-metallics. Most of them are organic compounds formulated with copper to resist the heat. The best of both worlds, organics make less dust, and copper is highly heat resistive.

Your comment about them stoping better when hot is only partly true. when compared to semi metallics, they will stop better when hot, but when compared to themselves, they usually have about the same coefficient of friction when hot as when cold.

Being that most are made of organic compounds as a base, most ceramics are far easier on rotors than most semi-metallics.

When you need to stop "instantly" your brakes will heat "instantly" as well. the difference being that your stopping power wont give up once the pads start heating up, they hold the heat much better.

now, in your origional comment, if you were to replace "ceramic" with "carbon fiber" you would be mostly correct. those make a ton of dust and bite better when hot than cold, and are very hard on rotors and make a ton of noise. For racing, brakes are considered consumeables, much like tires, so the only thing that matters is going fast and being able to stop.

Most of your OEM pads in the early 2000's were ceramics to reduce NVH.

 

I just did brakes on all 4 corners of my '10 F150 Supercrew. I had used different brands and compounds of pads on my '01 and found ceramics do make a lot less dust but the trade off seems to be less rotor life. Driving on New York's highways where in the winter calcium chloride is used along with rock salt to de-ice roads, your rotors aren't going to last more that two years anyway.
For the brake job on my '10 I went with all new rotors and the Wagner Thermo Quiet ceramic pads. I've run about 900 miles so far with no detectable dust, braking is better than the O.E. pads provided and they are "quiet" to boot. The last pads I had on my '01 were Advance's Wearever ceramic product. They would dust the wheels within a few miles and did not have anywhere near the stopping performance these Wagners do. We'll see how they do after a winter of corrosive chemical exposure.
Thanks
E.

 

Chandler put me on to these Motorcraft semi metallic pads Not the OEM and they are great wheel used to be black after 2 days now 2weeks and still just a light gray coat if you run your finger over it.
Used 4 different type of pads even ceramic ones all way to dusty.
Love the ones on it now.
Thanks Chandler.

 

Try this for sealing your rims:



Adam's Quick Sealant - YouTube

Adam's Polishes - Adam's Quick Sealant