Application of titanium alloy in bicycle and auto racing field
Titanium bicycles have the advantages of light weight, high strength, good corrosion resistance and fatigue resistance. Since the mid-1980s, titanium bicycles have developed rapidly, which has greatly promoted the application of titanium materials. For example, ANCOTECH, HAYNES INTERNATIONAL. and SANDVIK SPECIAl. METALS, three companies producing Ti3Al-2.5V pipes in the United States, have all turned to the bicycle industry.
In terms of material selection, Ti-3Al-2.5V and Ti-6Al-4V are the most commonly used titanium alloys for bicycle frames. Compared with other titanium alloys, the biggest advantage of Ti-3Al-2.5V is high yield strength and good process plasticity , and has good welding performance, the disadvantage is the high price. Although it was developed for aircraft hydraulic systems, it meets the material performance requirements of the bicycle market due to its good formability, corrosion resistance and elongation, combined with high fatigue strength and low density.
In the past few years, frames made of industrial pure titanium arms and non-aerospace Ti-3Al-2.5V (sports grade) titanium alloys have been popular, and Ti-6AL-4V is the most mature application with relatively good comprehensive mechanical properties. It is the titanium alloy material with the most complete performance data. It has good process plasticity and superplasticity, and is suitable for various pressure processing and forming. It can also be welded and machined in a variety of ways, but the formability, weldability and machining The performance is not as good as the former. In terms of making frame, Ti-6Al-4V is also attractive. It has slightly higher modulus and strength than li-3AL-2.5V, but it is more difficult to process it into small diameter bicycle frame tubing. The crankshaft positioner, pedals, handlebars and other bicycle parts connected to the frame are mostly made of Ti-6Al-