Scandium

[jerryojones]

I'm going to get a new frame in the next year. I've never ridden a "Scandium" frame. Sounds like an exotic material. How does it ride? How does it compare with carbon? Please post your comments if you have any knowledge or experience with this scandium stuff. Thanks. Jerry

[JeffR]

This is Scott Bike Description of Scandium. I have never ridden one but it is supposed to give a more steel like ride to an aluminum bike, if the frame is properly designed.

"Scandium is number 21 on the periodic table of elements. It was discovered over 120 years ago but gained importance during the Cold War, when Soviet scientists and engineers began experimenting with it as an aluminum alloying element. They discovered that it allowed them to weld high-strength aluminum alloys they previously could not.

In the bicycle world, Scandium refers to frame tubing made from an aluminum alloy that includes the element Scandium. In most cases, the tubing base is a high-strength, 7000-series aluminum alloy. The addition of Scandium allows the stronger, non-weldable base aluminum alloy to be welded. Previously, these and similar base alloys could only be made into a frame by bonding them together using high-strength adhesives and cast or machined lugs–almost like high-tech tinker toys.

Compared to standard 7000 series aluminum, the addition of scandium gives this new alloy the following added benefits:
• Improved strength
• Better fatigue and failure properties
• Enhanced weld strength

Scandium opens up new opportunities for frame engineers. In the past, aluminum tubing required larger diameter tubes to achieve the strength necessary to support riding. The larger diameter tubes resulted in stiff ride characteristics, which are fine for time trials but less than ideal for century rides. With Scandium tubing, frame engineers are able to use smaller diameter tubes, thinner cross sections, and shaped tubes to tune the ride characteristics of each frame while using less material. This results in comfortable, efficient, and light frames.

Scandium frame tubing also has increased fatigue life and improved failure modes when compared to traditional aluminum frame tubing. These added benefits come as a result of the same complex metallurgical reasons Scandium allows non-weldable alloys to be welded.

This technology and these benefits do not come free and easy. Raw Scandium is not as abundant as many other alloying elements and is difficult to extract from raw ore. Production of Scandium alloys is relatively new and is being done on a much smaller scale than other aluminum alloys. Welding Scandium requires the use of new technologies and different materials than other aluminums. Proper heat treatment is critical to frame strength and integrity, which prohibits many aluminum frame manufacturers from being able to work with Scandium. Most importantly, knowledge of the frame building material and proper design are still vitally necessary."

[Pugslyyy]

Scandium = fancy type of aluminum.
My rims are scandium, I like them.
Scandium frames are going to be much more flexy than a carbon frame.

[jerryojones]

Thanks guys. This is very helpful info. I am now leaning ever more toward carbon fiber for next bike.

[gary smith]

I own a Casati (Highend Scandium/Carbon frame) also a scandium Redline cyclecross bike. I did not find the frame more flexy than carbon. It is not as comfortable as carbon but any discomfort can be offset with a combo of tires/wheels , flat wing style handlebars/gel tape , a good fitting saddle and a carbon crank. Scandium is a lighter /stiffer high quality aluminum. Shimano still uses Scandium in one of their highend wheel sets.

[Pharmboy]

Scandium with Aluminum makes a stronger and purer alloy, allowing you to use less metal in the frame during extrusion. This rare alloy is also used to produce very lightweight structural components in other sports gear, firearms, and water/aircrafts.

Honestly, it is another type of frame material, just so that someone can say it is different than 7005 or 6066 AL. The design of the frame is the most important characteristic that really give the bike stiffness. I believe this type of frame would be more expensive than titanium alloy frames too.

Just my thought. It would be a very unique frame.

[mike-ryhmes-with]

take the question to bikeforums.net and watch the frame materials wars breakout

could be fun