PpPete
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chandler's Ford
Soft -? No.
Springy ? - Yes
I'm not a metallurgistbut I do know just enough about Young's Modulus to make me dangerous... and I've been involved with the 3Al-2.5V Titanium Alloy since the late 1980s when it was first being used in military aircraft for high pressure hydraulic tubes (and it's still used for that in the latest generation of military aircraft and the latest Airbus and Boeing civil aircraft). It is most definitely more springy than just about any steel I can think of.
The points about welding and gas shielding above are well made...it's a "reet booger" to weld.... but if it's done right it will last for ever.
The 3Al-2.5V alloy is also extremely tolerant of damage. I've seen some reports that would make your hair curl.
As for bikes made from the same alloy.... they just have to be designed with the metal in the right place to make the best use of the material properties (actually same applies to CF)
Let's just say it's no accident that I bought a Van Nic Yukon last year. It's a frame (with a lifetime warranty) designed for long distance comfort and whilst I think they've made the chain-stays fractionally too springy it has gone a long way to making my first SR series a relatively pain-free experience. Combined with a Carbon fork it soaks up the bumps WAY better than the Reynolds 531ST frame that I used to use... and the stiffness that's built in to the frame design means it's a good bit more responsive too.
Springy ? - Yes
I'm not a metallurgistbut I do know just enough about Young's Modulus to make me dangerous... and I've been involved with the 3Al-2.5V Titanium Alloy since the late 1980s when it was first being used in military aircraft for high pressure hydraulic tubes (and it's still used for that in the latest generation of military aircraft and the latest Airbus and Boeing civil aircraft). It is most definitely more springy than just about any steel I can think of.
The points about welding and gas shielding above are well made...it's a "reet booger" to weld.... but if it's done right it will last for ever.
The 3Al-2.5V alloy is also extremely tolerant of damage. I've seen some reports that would make your hair curl.
As for bikes made from the same alloy.... they just have to be designed with the metal in the right place to make the best use of the material properties (actually same applies to CF)
Let's just say it's no accident that I bought a Van Nic Yukon last year. It's a frame (with a lifetime warranty) designed for long distance comfort and whilst I think they've made the chain-stays fractionally too springy it has gone a long way to making my first SR series a relatively pain-free experience. Combined with a Carbon fork it soaks up the bumps WAY better than the Reynolds 531ST frame that I used to use... and the stiffness that's built in to the frame design means it's a good bit more responsive too.
