The choice of bicycle materials is directly related to the performance of bicycles, so bicycle materials have always been valued by bicycle design, production and users.
Steel, aluminum, titanium materials
Steel, aluminum, titanium vary in strength, hardness and weight, and each material has its own unique scope of application. For example, frames made of aluminum or titanium to the size of ordinary steel frames are soft and flexible, which is due to the lack of hardness of the two materials. Therefore, the diameter of the frame steel pipe in aluminum or titanium is larger than the diameter of the steel frame steel pipe in steel, because the larger the diameter without increasing the weight of the pipe wall, the stronger its hardness.
Metal frames are often damaged by insufficient endurance, both steel and titanium have endurance limits, and if the external force is less than this limit, the frame will not break. Aluminum materials do not have this limit, so each stress cycle (with regular periodic variable stress) will increase the risk of frame breakage, which is also the limitation of aluminum frame.
With its strength, light weight and corrosion resistance, titanium is an ideal frame material, especially for off-road vehicles and mountain bikes. However, the price of titanium is expensive, so its range of use is relatively niche.
Carbon fiber composites
Metal materials are mostly extracted from the ore, and composite materials are made of adhesives to paste structural fibers, adhesives are mostly epoxy resin, when the adhesive in the heat and air under the action of hardening, impregnated resin fibers can be formed on demand.
Metals are intermodal, i.e. metals have the same strength and hardness in all directions. Composites are heterotopic and have strength and hardness only if they follow the fiber auxiliary lines. Therefore, in order to solve the problem of changing stress on bicycle frames made of composite materials, the structural fibers on the frame are bonded in different directions and angles.
Because of the advantages of easy forming and ectopicity of composite materials, composite materials are widely used in the production of various round tubes, both bearing integral frames and frames with joints, that is, carbon fiber tubes inserted into aluminum or steel joints.
High gloss LFT composites
With the continuous innovation of science and technology, bicycle materials are more environmentally friendly. The latest high-gloss long-fiber thermoplastic (LFT) composites can meet the demanding requirements of bicycles, especially complex rims (commonly known as rims), and LFT materials can be recycled. In addition, LFT composites combine stiffness, impact strength and dynamic fatigue properties, making the material ideal for automotive and consumer applications, in addition to being ideal for sporting goods.
The change of bicycle materials represents the continuous innovation of technology, I believe that in the near future, bicycle materials will be more beyond our imagination!
This article is scientifically checked by Han Sujuan, senior teacher of the Ninth Middle School in Gaocheng District, Shijiazhuang City.