Bicycle Mechanics - the socio-economic history of bicycle metals 101

i want to learn about the metals that go to make bike frames. for example, i dont know the difference b/t reynolds #x steel tubing and reynolds #y. or the differences between reynolds and colombus, etc etc.

are there and good webpages on this? i am curious in each case where the metal (steel/aluminum/etc) comes from, where its turned into tubing and by whom.

From the horses mouth:
http://www.reynoldsusa.com/indexb.html

All the other major tubing suppliers have similar websites.

The steels used generally are not formulated and alloyed by the tubing companies (Columbus, Reynolds, True Temper, Dediaccai, etc.), but by specialty steel companies (Carpenter, Timken, Sandvik, etc.), which are much larger and have the equipment and personnel to do so. The tubing companies get the boules (a cylinder of steel that may only be two feet long and two inches in diameter with a 1/4" hole through the center) and draw them down and shape them in other ways to their own preferences. They may not even do this in their own shops, but subcontract to outside vendors.

It won't surprise me if the info you are able to ferret out is somewhat sketchy. The tubing companies do not want to give anything away to their competitors. But ASTM may be of some help in the formulations as they generally set the standards for the formulations.

In your research if you would post the info on the various companies I would be most intrested in your results. I haven't looked at this since retiring from the semiconductor industry some time ago. Have fun!

It doesn't really sound like what you're asking for, but here's a link to the basic primer on frame materials.
Metallurgy for Cyclists, by Sott Nicol (http://www.sjsu.edu/orgs/asmtms/artcle/articl.htm)


This would be a good reference article to have around, kind of like the Barnett's Manuals. Too bad it isn't in .pdf, or at least at a site where one count on it staying around for a while.

interesting site for weight and strengths of various tube manufactures: http://www.fortunecity.com/olympia/piper/18/general/tube_technology_2.htm

This site has some interesting articles, see Bashing the Steel bashers and see Limitations of lightweight aluminum : http://www.roadbikerider.com/UArant.htm

See this site for info about how various tubes are made: http://www.desperadocycles.com/The_Lowdown_On_Tubing/About_Steel_Tubing_frameset.htm

And this site answers some myths of the various tubings: http://www.henryjames.com/faq.html#strong

Also see this site for more info on frame material: http://www.exploratorium.edu/cycling/frames1.html

Some interesting info on Carbon stuff-not frames: http://www.bike.com/template.asp?date=10%2F5%2F2001&lsectionnumber=6

Also see VeloNews Buyers Guide edition page 42 for some great frame material information from a professional bike rag.

I don't know if these sites will answer all your questions but should answer some.