I am on the verge of buying a new frame. I recently discovered that the frame I was intending to buy is no longer available for this model year. However, the 2005 will soon be available in a few weeks and because of the unforseen popularity of my chosen frame for 2004, the '05 will be offered at the '04 price for a short time. The frame has changed for '05; a Ti frame with carbon stays, only they have added more nickle. Can any of the engineer posters venture a guess as to where and why the nickle was added to this frame? Nickle to the Ti or to the CF? I think the nickle is in the seat stays, not sure.

I am on the verge of buying a new frame. I recently discovered that the frame I was intending to buy is no longer available for this model year. However, the 2005 will soon be available in a few weeks and because of the unforseen popularity of my chosen frame for 2004, the '05 will be offered at the '04 price for a short time. The frame has changed for '05; a Ti frame with carbon stays, only they have added more nickle. Can any of the engineer posters venture a guess as to where and why the nickle was added to this frame? Nickle to the Ti or to the CF? I think the nickle is in the seat stays, not sure.


Whats the bike?

-TS

where and why the nickle was added to this frame? Nickle to the Ti or to the CF? I think the nickle is in the seat stays, not sure.

Nickle is added to stainless steel to make it more lustrous (shiney). I suppose it does the same to titanium alloy, doubt that it would be added to CF.

~Al

Could the nickel be a coating to provide some sort of electro-chemical corrosion/bonding problem?

...nickel is added to ferrous metals to enhance various properties: strength, hardenability, and, I think, corrosion resistance. I don't know if it is used in titanium alloys. But, I'm neither an engineer nor a metallurgist, just a "pretty good barnyard welder".

Spendy stuff, nickel.

Nickle is added to stainless steel to make it more lustrous (shiney). I suppose it does the same to titanium alloy, doubt that it would be added to CF.

~Al

Whats the bike?

-TS

12345

Although nickel does improve the bling factor, I do believe it's mainly applied to reduce corrosion.

I am on the verge of buying a new frame. I recently discovered that the frame I was intending to buy is no longer available for this model year. However, the 2005 will soon be available in a few weeks and because of the unforseen popularity of my chosen frame for 2004, the '05 will be offered at the '04 price for a short time. The frame has changed for '05; a Ti frame with carbon stays, only they have added more nickle. Can any of the engineer posters venture a guess as to where and why the nickle was added to this frame? Nickle to the Ti or to the CF? I think the nickle is in the seat stays, not sure.

They added nickle weave to the carbon fiber on the seat stays. Just like their forks. My guess is their fork vendor is now making the MP stays.

Looks kinda like this

sure is purdy

Nickle added to Ti will make it softer and more durable, somewhat closer to steel. For manufacturability, it will may be a trade off - making some manufacturing processes easier, but welding may not be one of them. I suspect it would also make it brighter as mentioned. Corrosion is not an issue for Ti so I don't think that's a consideration. If it's added to the CF I don't know what the reasoning would be.

Rather than guess, I did a google search and came up with an answer. The second line is the only common alloy that contains nickel. I'd guess that the alloy is cheaper than the more common Ti-3Al-2.5V alloy. Bicycle frames certainly don't need enchanced corrosion resistance. All the road salt in the world won't bother any Ti alloy.

CP Ti Grade 3 Corrosion resistant higher strength than Grade 2

Ti-0.8Ni-0.3Mo (Grade 12) Higher strength than cp but with enhanced corrosion resistance

Ti-3Al-2.5V Grade 9 (and with Pd Gr.18) 'Half 6-4' more easily fabricated, medium strength alloy

Ti-5Al-2.5Sn ELI (and Grade 6) Good combination of properties for cryogenic application

Ti-2Cu (TIMETAL®230) Heat treatable aero sheet alloy

Ti-4Al-4Mo-4Sn-0.5Si (TIMETAL®551) High strength airframe alloy, very limited availability

Ti-8Al-1Mo-1V (8-1-1) Early aero alloy now mainly used for spares and replacements

Ti-6Al-6V-2SnTi-662 High strength alloy with specific (earlier) aero applications

Ti-11Sn-5Zr-2.5Al-1Mo-0.2Si (TIMETAL®679) Earlier aero engine alloy rarely specified in new programmes

Ti-6Al-5Zr-0.5Mo-0.25Si (TIMETAL® 685) Aero engine alloy now mainly used for spares and replacements

Ti-6Al-2.7Sn-4Zr-0.4Mo-0.45Si (TIMETAL® 1100) High temperature alloy with some auto engine applications

Ti - 6Al - 1.7Fe - .1Si (TIMETAL® 62S) Low cost 'replacement for 6/4 in automotive and other non aero applications

Looks kinda like this

The sales Rep said "added to the CF stays", I was not paying real close attention to what he was saying as I was still hearing "we'll give you the '04 price for an "05 frame. Kestrel is the supplier of CF stays and forks (or whatever fork you would like, Reynolds, Ouzo, Kestrel). Decals changed also, BFD.