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TECH NEWS
Laverack R Jack - head tube.jpgCould titanium bikes be set to get cheaper?
Is there a titanium revolution on the horizon? Titanium bikes have always commanded a hefty premium due to the simple fact the material is hard to work with, but a potential development by the British government could make titanium bikes of the future cheaper to manufacture and purchase.
Scientists at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory in Porton Down have apparently developed a process that reduces the 40 stages required in producing titanium down to just two steps. It says this could potentially halve the cost of titanium production.
Titanium, a material as strong as steel but half the weight, has its roots in the aerospace industry and it was only introduced to the cycling market in the 1990s, US brands like Merlin, Litespeed and Moots among the legendary brands that specialised in this rare and exotic material.
- Terrific titanium: 14 of the loveliest titanium road bikes we've ridden
It’s a material that still in significant use by the military, from submarines to fighter jets, and it’s this continued use that has led to this manufacturing breakthrough.
“Our Armed Forces use titanium in everything from cutting-edge nuclear submarines and fighter jets through to life-changing replacement limbs - but production time and costs mean we haven’t always used it. This ground-breaking method is not only faster and cheaper but could see a huge expansion of titanium parts and equipment throughout the military. It is a clear example of how our world-class scientists are working behind the scenes to help our Armed Forces as well as bringing prosperity and security to Britain,” explains Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson.
The University of Sheffield is leading the development of this project with a £30,000 investment from the Dstl, and small-scale trials of the new process have been carried out so far. The process is called FAST-forge and involves producing components from powder.
Dr Nick Weston is better able to explain. “FAST-forge is a disruptive technology that enables near net shape components to be produced from powder or particulate in two simple processing steps. Such components have mechanical properties equivalent to a forged product. For titanium alloys, FAST-forge will provide a step change in the cost of components, allowing use in automotive applications in automotive applications such as powertrain and suspension systems,” he says.
We’re using potentially a lot here, but that’s all it is at this stage. It’s a long way from proving a concept in a lab to industrialising the process on a bigger scale, so don’t get too excited about titanium frames dropping in price anytime soon.
Still, it’s an interesting development and one we’ll try and keep an eye on.
David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes.
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19 comments
I apologise for my typing mistakes - unforgivable, in my book. However, does typing on an iPad in the bath let me off the hook at all? Steam? Drowsiness? Hypocrisy?
Ok, seeing as you gave us some choices, we'll go for the hypocrisy
I apologise for my typing mistakes - unforgivable, in my book. However, does typing on an iPad in the bath let me off the hook at all? Steam? Drowsiness? Hypocrisy?
A titanium revolution coming? No, not really, concludes the article.
Do try harder on your content and proof-reading - a mark of pride in my view.
I love annoying pendants
https://www.etsy.com/listing/61671591/mature-sparkly-flying-f-necklace
Curdins, I think you meant read-through, not read-though.
Why is their a hyphen they're?
Please, I beg you: proofread your articles before posting. Read through, even a skim, to pick up errors like 'required to product titanium components'. Yes, I'm an annoying pedant, but you're a respected website dealing with writing about bikes, and I'm sure you want to be taken seriously. A check over by a colleague wouldn't harm your article turnaround, which I understand is likely to be along the lines 'bosh that one out about the titanium stuff in the next 20 minutes'. It's hard, I'm sure. Been there.
I had to correct two errors in my post here on a read-though, but I'm not the journalist, and I doubt anyone is even going to read my comment. Maybe your readership doesn't care, and I should let this stuff go.
I can sense the 'yes' response winging its way to Italy ...
I agree. Proof readers needed urgently at Road.cc. I read "The process is called FAST-force and involves producing components from power." and thought "What does that mean: producing components from power?" It became clear in the next paragraph:
Dr Nick Weston is better able to explain. “FAST-forge is a disruptive technology that enables near net shape components to be produced from powder"
Two typos in one sentence is a bit much, isn't it?
I love annoying pedants
It never will be unfortunately. The actual initial production of the titanium is way more involved. Molten titanium loves to absorb oxygen which totally wrecks it so it has to melted under a hard vacuum which is difficult and expensive.
Don't hold your breath, this is not a revolution in welding titanium tubes together. Production cost of a titanium frame is probably mostly driven by labour cost anyway.
This method sounds more like a 3d-printing kind of process using powder/particulates. That sounds way more exciting as we could get aero-titanium frames in all kinds of fancy shapes.
That'd really piss off the old-school titanium bike owners.
Cool - I reckon my next bike should be titanium. I wonder if this will cause titanium to completely supplant aluminium?
All that will happen is manufacturers will soak up the extra profit.
Keep them exclusive and expensive. Don't want proles on nice bikes, do we?
Hear hear. I always appreciated the sound outside the cafe when I pull up on my Titanium with sand etched lugs and Royce hubs. What sound you ask? It's a quiet exhalation of breath as the throng gaze at the silver machine and then realise that their own bulbous plastic purchases - all shouty with LOGOS and fat rims - all look the same and they have chosen the Mondeo Sport when they could have bought the Mercedes 500SL instead.
If those* are what I think they are:
We don't need no stinking motor cars!
*well apart from a woman's name, I'm aware that Mercedes makes cars. Is Mondeo a SE Asian car maker? The name would sound good for a touring bike maker.