Scandium?

[Kylide]

I have been seeing other people on different forums posting about how scandium frames are becoming more uncommon. I was just wondering why, if this is true, companies have decided to move away from scandium?

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by Kylide

I have been seeing other people on different forums posting about how scandium frames are becoming more uncommon. I was just wondering why, if this is true, companies have decided to move away from scandium?

Scandium is just an additive to aluminum..very small amounts, .5%?? Makes the metal stronger, thinner walls with similar strength but no all 'scandium' frames. I think because relatively expensive when compared to (asian)carbon, carbon, everywhere.

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

Not 'really' a form of aluminum but additive to some aluminums.

[dave thompson]

I think aluminum frames, by and large, are less common now and scandium is a form of aluminum. More popular in firearms than bikes.

[Rada]

I don't think they were ever that common to begin with.

[jlwdm]

+1

Jeff

[Kylide]

Originally Posted by Rada

I don't think they were ever that common to begin with.

I think my wording is a bit off... I just heard that scandium aluminum frames are pretty awesome, I have never ridden one so my references are second hand. I guess I am asking why they seem to be getting phased out if they are indeed good frames. If anyone knows of any articles I can used to research more I would appreciate it.

[ultratoad]

Pegoretti Love #3 is a Scandium frameset.... Built for racing with a very nice ride.... He sells a lot of them.... Very nice frame....

[John H.]

They are awesome. With scandium you can produce a frame that comes closer to carbon in terms of weight than anything, and it rides nice too.
Reasons they are rare:
1.)Only aluminum builders work with scandium
2.)Easton no longer makes scandium tubing in the USA so it is way harder to get and minumums are higher for builders.
3.)For bike companies a scandium frame is not expensive or profitable enough. They make way more $ by making everyone think they need a carbon bike. Why would they want to sell a $5000 scandium bike when they can sell a $10-11k carbon bike.
That said- a nice 6000 or 7000 series aluminum frame is 90% of what a scandium frame would be- cost is low. Go to Rocklobster or Primus Mootry if you want something like this- they cost very little and are custom!

[Plum Hill]

One custom builder I spoke with claimed Scandium frames were "throwaway" after two years. He said I should go steel or aluminum if I wanted to keep it long term.

[ultraman6970]

Why?? there is a reason for that?

[UKBROOKLYN]

Look I don't understand calling an aluminum bike that has .5 percent Scandium in the alloy a Scandium Bike..

It should be called something else.. On that rational a Titanium bike with 5 % aluminum and whatever Vanadium should be called an aluminum Bike.

However the tiny amount of scandium does have a big effect rendering a material that can be made thinner for the same strength and a little more flex.. Thus a light comfy bike..
Why not so many scandium bikes ?? World production of scandium per annum is approximately 2 to 4 tones of oxide reduced to 800 lbs of the element.

To put this in perspective world production of Gold is about 3 million pounds

[Bob Loblaw]

Apparently aluminum treated with scandium has a shorter fatigue life, and becomes more flexible in a shorter period of use. That is just what I have heard, I have no direct experience with a scandium bike. But as these things go, whether it's true or not, having that reputation is probably enough to stop people from buying it.

BL

Originally Posted by ultraman6970

Why?? there is a reason for that?

[rustychisel]

so many half truths and misperceptions...

Yes, Scandium is an alloy of alu and the percentage added is very small. Yes, Scandium frames are lovely and light, typically under 1200g, and they're plenty stiff and last well, thin walled tubing notwithstanding. They will break eventually, that's the nature of the beast... mine is over 10 years old now, has been ridden by Mark Renshaw and Graeme Browne, and me. I'm the softy of the trio.

No, Scandium does not weld into a lightweight frame which can approach current carbon models for weight, not even near, and that's one reason why the market went away from them, and other alu frames.

The market: pursues lightweight, has been told repeatedly it wants carbon fibre, and bike manufacturers can supply CF frames easily, comparatively cheaply, and quickly, with little or no manufacturing expertise and associated labour costs (leaving aside specialist producers like Crumpton).

An artisan is required to weld Scandium framsets, the tubes are very thin (0.4mm at their thinnest) and there is little margin for error. It's time consuming, and therefore costly. The end result is sublime. But expensive.

The problem for Scandium alu frames was one of timing also, They came when the market was changing from alu to CF and in trying to compete the alu manufacturers were trying to make ever lighter frames, many of which broke... think U2 tubing, Starship etc

To my mind Scandium was something a lot better than simple lightweight tubing, a little bit special, and trust me on this, is doesn't get flexible or lose its zip. I would agree they were never particularly common in the first place; the Easton tubing was used by a relative handful of builders to make high end race bikes, which is why a Merckx branded Domo Farm Frites team SC is such a highly sought after bike even today.

[CunegoFan]

Originally Posted by UKBROOKLYN

Look I don't understand calling an aluminum bike that has .5 percent Scandium in the alloy a Scandium Bike..

It should be called something else..

Scamdium.

[rustychisel]

Originally Posted by CunegoFan

Scamdium.

Have you owned a SC bike? Ridden one extensively?