The use of titanium for bicycle and wheelchair frames was formed in the mid-1980s, and the application of titanium developed rapidly, but just as these small markets began to heat up, the application of titanium in the world slowed down.
1. Bicycle frame
In recent years, due to the reduction of national defense and the ups and downs of the aircraft industry, the three companies in the United States that produce Ti-3-2.5V pipes have turned to the bicycle industry, but the world's production of 3AI-2.5V bicycle frames is not enough. Titanium (130t) for three Boeing 747 aircraft. Currently, nearly 50 companies produce titanium bicycles. 90% of the world's all-titanium frames come from several original equipment manufacturers (OE), and half of the remaining 10% are Produced by the United States itself, the United States has long been the largest producer and consumer of titanium bicycles. 2015 is likely to be the year with the highest sales of titanium frames. About 17,000 pairs of titanium frames will be produced, with a total weight of about 82 tons of materials, including Full Titanium Tubing, Rods, and Plates. As more cyclists start to understand the benefits of titanium but are feeling the pinch, Ti-3Al-2.5V frames produced with aero-quality tubing are priced at Between $1,600 and $3,500, the entire bike sells from $2,400 to $6,000. For the past four years, industrial-grade titanium tubes and non-aeronautical fine-3AI-2.SV (sports grade) titanium alloys have been made Frames are quite popular, with some sport-grade titanium frames retailing for as low as $1,000 per pair and as low as $1,700 for the entire bike.
2. Bicycle parts
Bicycle parts refer to crankshaft positioners, pedals, handlebars, etc. connected to the frame. The titanium parts industry is developing faster than the penalty-3厶1-2.5V frame industry, and most parts are made of Ti-6AI-4V. Most of the parts are machined out of bars or plates. The purchasing power of Ti-6A1-4V for parts is only 1/3 of that of Ti-3 2.5V frame, about 10t in 1997. Cast parts are becoming more and more common, but this development is likely to be slower than machined parts. Titanium suppliers are starting to provide titanium parts manufacturers with cheap materials. Most of this low-cost bicycle-grade material is actually used. Obsolete aviation material.
3 Wheelchair frames and components
The wheelchair market is different from the bicycle market in many ways. The most important difference is that currently only a small amount of titanium wheelchair frames are produced, most of which are produced with seamed industrial pure titanium pipes. The total purchasing power of titanium for wheelchairs is about 55t. Currently, in the United States, Only a few companies have enough research and development funds to develop titanium wheelchairs or buy materials. Compared with cheaper aluminum wheelchairs, titanium wheelchairs have few advantages. Except for titanium screws and bolts, the titanium wheelchair parts industry has not yet formed, although there is a market, but small and includes only a small number of consumable parts.
4. Material requirements
Compactness, stiffness, and lightweight are general requirements for drive specifications for bicycles and wheelchairs. Titanium is often not the best material, while forged and cast aluminum are more popular if the price of titanium metal matrix composites (MMCs) comes down. Has the potential to be an alternative to some of the current aluminum application markets.
The material requirements for a bicycle frame are simple, but the ride characteristics are particularly critical, complicating the choice of materials in some ways. Most means of transport, structural elements are separated from the internal facilities and operating elements. Until recently, all bicycle The frame requires structural integrity and suspension function. There is no titanium alloy that is specifically designed for bicycles, only some materials have been modified for bicycles, and most people think about reducing cost, and accepting titanium components face The main problem is rigidity rather than cost.
Ti-3Al-2.5V is the most commonly used titanium alloy for bicycles, although it is developed for aircraft hydraulic systems, due to its formability and corrosion resistance. The high fatigue strength to weight ratio and good elongation makes it meet the performance standards of the bicycle market. Compared with other titanium alloys, the biggest advantage of Ti-3Al-2.5V is the yield strength and easy tube forming. The disadvantage is its price and mold. The ratio of quantity to density is poor. It is not easy to extrude Ti-3Al-2.5V as the dominant position of the frame material. Ti-6AI-4V also has a certain attraction, its modulus and strength are better than Ti- 3Al-2.5V is higher, but it is difficult to process a small diameter pipe like a bicycle frame. Ti-15V-3Al-6Cr-4Mo-4Zr is also easy to form, but its higher density and lower modulus offset its strength. the improved advantage.
wheelchair frame
The material of the wheelchair frame is basically the same as that of the bicycle frame, such as aluminum, carbon fiber, titanium, and steel. The dry chair frame should not be tilted as much as possible. It is astringent from time to time, and the rigid frame often causes the three wheels to touch the ground, which is caused by the uneven ground or the imperfect alignment of the frame, and the three wheels landing on the ground makes the wheelchair unable to drive very straight, and it is not easy to manipulate. Correctly designed titanium wheelchairs can improve traction, manipulation, and user fatigue by torsional flexibility. The titanium also has resilience. Although Ti-15V-3Al-6Cr-4Mo-4Zr has a higher density, its bending characteristics, It has the same suction force as Ti-3/%1-2.5V, and its lower modulus makes it more flexible and comfortable than Ti-3Al-2.53/frame.
5. Market development
If the titanium industry is interested in developing the titanium sporting goods industry, including bicycles and wheelchairs, it must advertise not only the producers but also the end-users of the products. After the failure of the titanium frame in the 1970s, although due to the Ti-3A1-2.5V The excellent properties of the tubing have given titanium a bit of a reputation, it is easily threatened by the cheap industrial-pure titanium frames that are currently entering the market, plus there are titanium frames made by smaller companies that don't have the tools to create successful titanium frames. The knowledge and resources necessary for the product will affect the reputation of titanium in the bicycle industry and other consumer goods. This problem has been encountered in the sailing industry a few years ago, discrediting titanium in the high-tech sailing market, and titanium is still Banned from used on racing sailboats by the relevant authorities, such problems can be avoided entirely through publicity.
6. Research and development
Since the bicycle and wheelchair industry, like the sailing industry, is not as mature as the aviation industry, most companies spend less on development and research than on sales, so if a processing plant wants to sell materials to a bicycle manufacturer, it must take some responsibility for research. The wheelchair and bicycle industry has been using steel for 100 years, and there are very few areas that need improvement, so very few engineers are engaged in research. Generally speaking, steel bicycle tube mills are more important than frame manufacturers. Much more is known about how to produce a durable bicycle frame. Most research on the suitability of titanium alloys for special applications has been the work of aerospace producers, but the bicycle industry has been unable and unwilling to invest in research So if titanium manufacturers want to increase their market share, they must support the design process of consumer products, and it is very important for companies selling materials to bicycle and wheelchair companies to realize that long-term growth will come from education.
