TI/AL alloy frames
03-26-09, 07:36 PM
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TI/AL alloy frames
Saw a show about the Soviet space program; they apparently made heavy use of TI/AL alloys. Anyone know if anyone has ever built frames with such?
03-26-09, 07:37 PM
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03-26-09, 07:55 PM
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Most(all) titanium frames are alloys with either aluminum, vanadium, or both.
Pure Ti is often weaker and heavier than it's alloys.
Pure Ti is often weaker and heavier than it's alloys.
03-26-09, 08:42 PM
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3/2.5 titanium alloy contains 3% aluminum and 2.5% vanadium. 6/4 titanium alloy contains 6$ and 4%, respectively.
Scandium is also alloyed, but the other way around, IIRC (small percentage of actual scandium in an aluminum-based alloy). Magnesium is also alloyed for strength, and to keep costs down.
So to answer your question: They've been doing it for years.
03-27-09, 05:52 AM
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I've once saw a lithium aluminum frame on Ebay. I worked at Alcoa for 9 years at their R&D center where they were developing the manufacturing processes for lithium aluminum and would have an explosion every now and then. Lithium is volatile stuff. It was developed for aerospace applications and is considerably lighter than the typical 2000 and 7000 series aerospace alloys.
They were also plasma-spraying titanium aluminide onto carbon fiber to make composite tapes. The tapes would be layered and pressure-formed to make high temperature aerospace components.
This was 14 years ago. The design, materials, and manufacturing technologies going into bicycles is very primitive compared to the general state-of-the-art.
They were also plasma-spraying titanium aluminide onto carbon fiber to make composite tapes. The tapes would be layered and pressure-formed to make high temperature aerospace components.
This was 14 years ago. The design, materials, and manufacturing technologies going into bicycles is very primitive compared to the general state-of-the-art.
