Advantages and disadvantages of aluminum alloy frame forgings

1. Make a lightweight frame

The specific gravity of aluminum is light but not hard enough. In order to increase its strength, it is made into an alloy and subjected to heat treatment. The heat treatment adopts the aging precipitation enhancement method. Simply put, a substance that hinders the deformation of the metal is formed in the metal. When heat treatment is carried out at a certain high temperature, it will cause aging precipitation. If the frame has not been subjected to this procedure, it will also cause aging at room temperature. In other words, putting the frame in the room will gradually become stronger.

Many aluminum alloy frames are made of 6061T6 material. The T6 mark indicates heat treatment and aging. Without heat treatment, the strength can only reach 1/2 or 1/5.

Strictly speaking, bicycle parts with the 7075 mark have not undergone too much heat treatment. That is to say, because there is no aging, it is aging at room temperature.

Heat treatment is necessary for 7075 alloy, and its strength can be increased by 5 times through heat treatment. In addition, 7005 alloy is also commonly used to make frame, its strength is not as good as 7075, but it is also a material that can be sufficiently aged at room temperature. This material can also be made into thin materials by Padded processing. However, the strength of the material itself and the Young's modulus of elasticity are low, so the pipe diameter is increased to increase the rigidity.

2. No change in appearance after long time use

Aluminum itself is a metal that is easily corroded. There is almost no aluminum that has not been oxidized in the air. It will be oxidized immediately when placed in the air to form a thin oxide film. Why doesn't it rust? The reason is that when the oxide film reaches a certain level, it prevents the rust from continuing. The oxide film is almost colorless, so it is not easy to notice changes in appearance (sometimes, it may turn white).

On the other hand, when riding a bicycle made of this material, the more times you ride, the higher the number of stress occurrences, and the significant changes in strength. Recently, in order to achieve light weight, many frames are made of thin materials (the degree of thinness has reached the limit). These are made of aluminum alloy with no fatigue limit to make the frame.

For pipelines, the purpose of this processing is to prolong the fatigue life. According to public data, it can increase by 140%. KET treatment is: fatigue failure is caused by cracks that occur on the metal surface, so hardening processing technology is used to increase the hardness of the metal surface.

1. Aluminum is a material with low elasticity and rigidity. Therefore use thicker pipes, or change the shape such as cross-over pipes, padded pipes, etc.

2. Heat treatment is required, heat treatment is necessary, otherwise the strength is not enough. Therefore, the general small-scale factories are unable to purchase heat treatment equipment. Especially the 6000 series aluminum alloy tube. All manufacturers of heat treatment indicators are regarded as confidential. This also achieved a variety of hardness.