| Science and Geometry |
| Many believe that titanium mountain bike frames are strictly made up of the element titanium and thats it, this is wrong. Titanium mountain bike frames are actually a compound made up of titanium and aluminum mixed at different ratios. Most commonly you will see a 3/2.5 or a 6/4 titanium to aluminum ratio. Because titanium is so stong their is no need to use all titanium for a mountain bike frame. Because aluminum is lighter than titanium frames can be made very strong and very light. Frame building companies like to use aluminum to titanium ratios to save money as well because titanium is very expensive. Titanium frames are all very similar. Because titanium frames only come in hardtail and ridged softail designes you will ordinarily see titanium frames built up to race cross country. The average geometry for an 18 inch titanium mountain bike frame is around 23 inches for the top tube with a 71 degree head angle and a 73 degree seat angle. Also you will rarely see a painted titanium frame. Because of the coating they use on the tubeing to resist corrosion paint will not stick to the titanium frame. Below you will a series of scientific facts about titanium. -Atomic symbol is Ti -Atomic number is 22 -Atomic mass is 47.86g -Melting point is 3034 deg. F. -Boiling Point is 5948 deg. F. -Density is 4.54 g/cc -Electrical resistivity (20deg. C.) is 56 microhms-cm -Resists most acids -There are 3 structural types of titanium alloys: 1.Alpha: Very weldable, low to medium strength and good oxidation resistance 2.Alpha-Beta: Very weldable, medium high strength, good got forming qualities and high temperature strength. 3.Beta: Generally weldable, high strength and form very well -Isotopes of titanium areTi-46, Ti-47,Ti-48 and Ti-49 |
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