[DRB]

The main gist of the article was talking about the shortage of carbon fiber brought on by Airbus, Boeing and the military. However, this part I found interesting (worrying?)

The first consequences of the forthcoming price hike can already be seen, claimed Dr Weng. He said his R&D team have come across Asian bicycle components made from cheaper glass fibre, 'wrapped' in carbon fibre. Last year's trend was for carbon fibre sheathing over aluminium cores, a shady practice but one that's easily proved to be taking place (so long as you can bear cutting into your 'carbon' handlebars, that is). However, glass fibre cores can be dyed to look indistinguishable from the carbon fibre outers and it needs specialist testing to spot the duds.

 

[binary visions]

High quality, US made carbon fiber has enough of a bad rap, anyone buying cheap, Asian made carbon components deserves a :nuts:

 

[Andyman_1970]

Carbon Fiber + Aluminum = corrosion, very very bad.

 

[Hawkeye]

I thinks they are talking about those Wal-mart bikes/parts.

I can't see a quality bike maker doing this because they know they would get caught. People break frames all the time.

 

[syadasti]

Easton carbon fiber is made in Mexico - wonder if they do it

 

[Damn True]

Carbon Fiber + Aluminum = corrosion, very very bad.

It can be done safely.
You first need to treat the AL with a process called Alodine. It is an acid etch that creates a corrosion barrier. Then the bond areas are first layered with a "scrim" which is a layer of glass fiber (non-conductive material) then you layup the carbon.

Military aircraft have used this process for years. It's also used on the Specialized E-5 Tarmac.

 

[blue]

High quality, US made carbon fiber has enough of a bad rap, anyone buying cheap, Asian made carbon components deserves a :nuts:

Can you say Giant?

(This is just for you, SS)

 

[Silver]

Hell, everything is made in Asia. Remember the story about (I think it was) Merckx's carbon bikes being outsourced? edit: Whoops, Colnago.

Just look for the "Designed in Italy" sticker...

Maybe in the interests of safety Mr. Weng would tell us who is doing this?

also, here is the article at cyclingnews:

cyclingnews.com

 

[Mackie]

Easton carbon fiber is made in Mexico - wonder if they do it

Mexico?
That explains it! My easton carbon bars were feeling a little flexy - a structural analysis revealed that the "carbon fibers" were not carbon fibers at all - they were really thin strips of tortillas, woven together!

Aye Dios!

-Mackie (really wants fish tacos for dinner)

 

[Andyman_1970]

It can be done safely.
You first need to treat the AL with a process called Alodine. It is an acid etch that creates a corrosion barrier. Then the bond areas are first layered with a "scrim" which is a layer of glass fiber (non-conductive material) then you layup the carbon.

Military aircraft have used this process for years. It's also used on the Specialized E-5 Tarmac.

It's not however widespread on civil aircraft (what I work on) - we use Ti in lieu of AL in those applications. We tried going in areas that needed reinforcement by using Al plates (called doublers) however with the galvanic considerations we decided to use Ti instead, even with alodine and epoxy primer Al was still to risky.

It has boiled down to a general rule of thumb, just like you don't have Al and Stainless steel mating parts (even with corrosion protection) or use Magnesium if you can help it.