Author Topic: Does salt eat carbon? (Read 4718 times)

jazclrint · « **on:** December 04, 2005, 03:31:56 pm »

One of the guys in my College's bike club is drueling over my 5500's pics and can't wait for me to get it back. But he always mentions that he heard that road salt (I live in Maine) will eat at the carbon fiber. Does anyone know if this is true?

And a little off subject. Was there ever a light wieght CF racing swingarm? Or is that just some huey I saw on Ebay.

Thanks,
Rich

Simon · « **Reply #1 on:** December 05, 2005, 04:40:41 am »

Quote

One of the guys in my College's bike club is drueling over my 5500's pics and can't wait for me to get it back. But he always mentions that he heard that road salt (I live in Maine) will eat at the carbon fiber. Does anyone know if this is true?

And a little off subject. Was there ever a light wieght CF racing swingarm? Or is that just some huey I saw on Ebay.

Thanks,
Rich

Thats a new one on me,
personally I'd say no,never heard of it and what about
cars and car componects that use carbon fibre,
there subjected to consistantly more salt attack,
yes I know there aren't many cars using this material
but there are a few, mainly exotica but would they use this material if it would degrade with salt,plus
alot of motorcycles use carbon fibre,

and yes I'm sure there was a light weight carbon
s/arm produced.

Simon.

Wankel · « **Reply #2 on:** December 05, 2005, 04:47:31 am »

Simple answer is no. BUT, (there's always a but

) any exposed aluminum WILL be effected by salt (your frame is not ALL CF, you have dropouts and a bottom bracket area too

- not to mention bolts)- use Titanium where you can. You can keep your ride looking great by just rinsing off the frame and components with tap-water after a messy ride. The UV - aka" SUN " (in the sunny states) is what degrades unprotected CF - but only after years. Use UV protection on your frame in those places

.

-Chad

Quote

One of the guys in my College's bike club is drueling over my 5500's pics and can't wait for me to get it back. But he always mentions that he heard that road salt (I live in Maine) will eat at the carbon fiber. Does anyone know if this is true?

And a little off subject. Was there ever a light wieght CF racing swingarm? Or is that just some huey I saw on Ebay.

Thanks,
Rich

loaded · « **Reply #3 on:** December 05, 2005, 10:13:07 am »

I used to row a full carbon skiff in NZ in Wellington harbour and Kerrs reach, both as salty as you can get.
No problems at all

PS- actually had a dream about finding a Carbon Oz frame in a dumpster last week, just remembered it while talking about carbon!!!

I'm beginning to get concerned about this obsession!!!!

[smiley=turtle.gif]

loaded · « **Reply #4 on:** December 05, 2005, 10:22:01 am »

I used to row a full carbon skiff in NZ in Wellington harbour and Kerrs reach, both as salty as you can get.
No problems at all

PS- actually had a dream about finding a Carbon Oz frame in a dumpster last week, just remembered it while talking about carbon!!!

I'm beginning to get concerned about this obsession!!!!

[smiley=turtle.gif]

Thunderchild · « **Reply #5 on:** December 06, 2005, 03:13:53 pm »

I doubt it, but will keep my mind open. There are a couple of engineering professors who are plastic/carbon fiberexperts at the university where I work. One created the iso-truss which is a hollow column made form carbon fiber. I will try and contact them about the salt question.

For other information see the wikipedia link below.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphite_reinforced_plastic

Colin · « **Reply #6 on:** December 06, 2005, 08:16:56 pm »

Quote: "And a little off subject. Was there ever a light wieght CF racing swingarm? Or is that just some huey I saw on Ebay."

I have vaguely heard about lightweight K2 racing frames but have never seen one for definite.
It's a shame really that K2 decided to go the strength route with CF rather than the lightness route.

I quote from K2's "The Carbon Frame Tech Sheet"

How’s it stack up?
Compared to the 857 frame, the
new K2 carbon frame is:
• Over 50% stronger
• About 50% stiffer
• About 10% lighter (2.85 vs 3.1lbs)
• AND MUCH COOLER!

Shame it's not 50% lighter and 10% stronger....!

Like this........
Nanotube bike enters Tour de France
http://nanotechweb.org/articles/news/4/7/1

But this IsoTruss one isn't any lighter.....
http://byunews.byu.edu/print_release.aspx?story=archive05/Jan/isotrussbike
"This frame weighs in at 3 ¼ pounds, and we're confident the next one will be less than 3 pounds," says Tyler,
also a mountain bike enthusiast. "That's a big deal in the cycling world."

(well it might have been in 1997!)

Col.

shovelon · « **Reply #7 on:** December 07, 2005, 02:03:25 am »

50% stronger???

If mine was any weaker or flexy I would make a road bike out of it. It just barely makes the grade as a freeride bike.

The swingarm wobbles like a wet noodle. The main traingle seams to be pretty rigid. That is where they get thier figures I imagine.

Terry

colinv · « **Reply #8 on:** December 07, 2005, 03:53:43 am »

I have spoken to some of the lads who work in our CF bay and they said as long as you keep it clean after rides it should be ok, the only thing you need to worry about is if the resin starts to beak down and the salt settles on it.

Matno · « **Reply #9 on:** December 07, 2005, 03:56:17 am »

Quote

50% stronger???

If mine was any weaker or flexy I would make a road bike out of it. It just barely makes the grade as a freeride bike.

The swingarm wobbles like a wet noodle. The main traingle seams to be pretty rigid. That is where they get thier figures I imagine.

Terry

Amen. Yes, it IS the front triangle they're talking about. Definitely NOT the swingarm. As beefy as it looks, it's amazing that it's as flexible as it is. Go figure. Don't even want to think about the extra light carbon swingarms that are out there somewhere...

jazclrint · « **Reply #10 on:** December 07, 2005, 08:44:04 am »

colinv,
Thanks man!

Matno,
So you're saying there is a lighter one for sure?

I have never really noticed much flex in the swing arm at all, and I'm over 200 lbs, but I haven't ridden a hardtail in some time. I don't really feel any difference between what I remember from my 2000 to my 5500. Maybe the frame feels stiffer.

Thunderchild · « **Reply #11 on:** December 08, 2005, 02:49:29 pm »

Carbon vs. salt

I heard back from an engineering professor who works with carbon fiber. He admitted that he is not a chemist, but does not think salt will affect carbon fiber/resin as it is quite inert. UV can be an issue, but most chemicals should not affect it.

Thunderchild

colinv · « **Reply #12 on:** December 09, 2005, 08:52:02 am »

We have just had parts detach form a carbon part of an aircaft and they are saying it maybe due to salt so you never know, I know the speeds are totaly different and must be taken into consideration

Wankel · « **Reply #13 on:** December 09, 2005, 10:10:20 am »

What 'craft was it Colin? I know that our StarShip has seen a few air miles on her - but have never had any real stress problems at all. And this baby has pulled quite a few "G's" in her life. And seen quite a bit of weather Too. You can see the Raytheon in the last page of this pdf that's at our Evergreen 'port :
http://www.sprucegoose.org/news_events/media_pdfs/MediaPhotoKit.pdf

Wankel

Quote

We have just had parts detach form a carbon part of an aircaft and they are saying it maybe due to salt so you never know, I know the speeds are totaly different and must be taken into consideration

Wankel · « **Reply #14 on:** December 09, 2005, 10:31:14 am »

And,.... If anyone is REAL bored. You can check out history in the making. http://www.scaled.com/careers/index.html , and if you're looking for a job

.

Also...... http://scaled.com/projects/tierone/index.htm If you are curious about Carbon and flying it

. And I don't mean jumping your OZ over a ditch , hehe

.

Wankel

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Author Topic: Does salt eat carbon? (Read 4718 times)