Carbon fiber materials have the following 11 characteristics:
1. High material strength
Carbon fiber bicycles and parts produced by regular enterprises have very high strength. Some high-quality carbon fiber bicycle frames are even stronger than aluminum alloy frames. Therefore, many mountain bikes or downhill bikes with extremely high strength requirements have also begun to use carbon fiber composite materials to make various parts.
2. Super plasticity
Carbon fiber materials can basically be made into any shape required for bicycles, and there is no trace of connection on the surface, so bicycles of various shapes can be made.
3. Ultra-light weight
Carbon fiber materials have very light weight and are very ideal lightweight materials. At present, when bicycles pursue speed and aerodynamics to the extreme, a large number of bicycles and corresponding accessories using high-grade carbon fiber materials continue to appear.
4. Super rigidity
Carbon fiber bicycle parts have very high rigidity, and the rigidity of high-quality carbon fiber frames is higher than that of aluminum alloy frames. Therefore, in competitions or various high-intensity sports of competitive types, bicycle frames, handlebars, and wheels used for riding are increasingly made of carbon fiber composite materials.
5. Super corrosion resistance
Carbon fiber is a graphite crystal structure formed by high-temperature graphitization treatment. This physical structure is very stable. Therefore, it has high corrosion resistance.
6. Super shock absorption
Carbon fiber material is not only highly rigid, but also has a good shock absorption effect. In the absence of shock absorbers during riding, the toughness of the carbon fiber frame may be better than that of aluminum alloy and high-carbon steel frames.
7. Complex production
During the processing of carbon fiber, complex load stress calculations are required. According to the results of the calculated longitudinal stiffness and lateral stiffness, the carbon fiber board is laminated.
8. Weak puncture resistance
Although carbon fiber has high tensile strength, the shear and puncture resistance of carbon fiber materials are not so strong, which is one of the reasons why carbon fiber products are prone to breakage or holes.
9. Difficult to change the size
Carbon fiber frames need to be made into basic molds. Once the bicycle frame mold and demolding are completed, it is difficult to change the size. Therefore, it is difficult for carbon fiber bicycles to meet multiple sizes and styles at one time, unless they are completely personalized DIY customization.
10. Exposure to sunlight can easily age
The surface of carbon fiber parts has a layer of epoxy resin used to cure and protect carbon fiber materials. If they are exposed to high temperature outdoors for a long time, under the influence of factors such as sunlight, oxygen and humid environment, the surface of carbon fiber composite materials will crack and age, and eventually penetrate into the material to cause damage. Carbon fiber bicycles should not be exposed to the sun for a long time.
11. High price
Products made of carbon fiber are very expensive. Because its processing technology is more complicated, the procedures will be more cumbersome, and there will be a high scrap rate, so the time cost and labor cost are naturally much higher than the cost of other materials.