C
Curt Wiederhoeft
Guest
There are plenty of new bikes out there (Leader, Redline, Haro, etc.),
all touting the fact that their frames are made of U6 aluminum, and
almost all using the magic catchphrase of "U6 aluminum alloy is 25%
stronger and 20% more fatigue resistant than traditional 6061-T6
aluminum alloy."
The problem? I can't seem to find an actual U6 standard. I'm not a
mechanical or materials engineer, so please forgive the ignorance. I
can go to the ASTM web site, and buy the specification for 6061-T6, but
ASTM appears not to have heard of U6. If I'm in the market for a new
aluminum bike, what assurance could I get that (1) U6 aluminum actually
*does* meet these strength and fatigue resistance parameters, and (2)
that any particular piece of tubing or a frame can be certified to be
called "U6?" Based on the definition of T6 (tempering or heat
treatment), is U6, whatever it may be, a property of the frame before
or after it's assembled?
So, what's up with U6? Is it more than just marketing hype? Why are
bike makers the only companies that seem to be using it? Enquiring
minds, and all that jazz.
Curt
all touting the fact that their frames are made of U6 aluminum, and
almost all using the magic catchphrase of "U6 aluminum alloy is 25%
stronger and 20% more fatigue resistant than traditional 6061-T6
aluminum alloy."
The problem? I can't seem to find an actual U6 standard. I'm not a
mechanical or materials engineer, so please forgive the ignorance. I
can go to the ASTM web site, and buy the specification for 6061-T6, but
ASTM appears not to have heard of U6. If I'm in the market for a new
aluminum bike, what assurance could I get that (1) U6 aluminum actually
*does* meet these strength and fatigue resistance parameters, and (2)
that any particular piece of tubing or a frame can be certified to be
called "U6?" Based on the definition of T6 (tempering or heat
treatment), is U6, whatever it may be, a property of the frame before
or after it's assembled?
So, what's up with U6? Is it more than just marketing hype? Why are
bike makers the only companies that seem to be using it? Enquiring
minds, and all that jazz.
Curt