Framebuilders - New Steel for Bicycle Frames?

I'm not a framebuilder but this article over at Forbes caught my eye: "Entrepreneur Creates World's Lightest, Strongest Steel In Less Than 10 Seconds".

http://blogs.forbes.com/alexknapp/2011/06/10/entrepreneur-creates-worlds-lightest-strongest-steel-in-less-than-10-seconds/

The links in the article are interesting. One is an article written by a researcher at Ohio State that explains the science.

I'm not a framebuilder but this article over at Forbes caught my eye: "Entrepreneur Creates World's Lightest, Strongest Steel In Less Than 10 Seconds".

http://blogs.forbes.com/alexknapp/2011/06/10/entrepreneur-creates-worlds-lightest-strongest-steel-in-less-than-10-seconds/

The links in the article are interesting. One is an article written by a researcher at Ohio State that explains the science.

Except it isn't, or even close. Not even slightly. Very strange.

It's quick. But so is any quench process. I'm very impressed that they were 'suprised to find bainite' in a chromium-molybdenum alloyed steel subject to a regimented transformation. That's what the composition was invented for.

TL;DR - Cambridge is producing PhDs of this calibre these days? Has Harry Bhadeshia retired?

I'm not a framebuilder but this article over at Forbes caught my eye: "Entrepreneur Creates World's Lightest, Strongest Steel In Less Than 10 Seconds".

http://blogs.forbes.com/alexknapp/2011/06/10/entrepreneur-creates-worlds-lightest-strongest-steel-in-less-than-10-seconds/

The links in the article are interesting. One is an article written by a researcher at Ohio State that explains the science.

Except it isn't, or even close. Not even slightly. Very strange.

It's quick. But so is any quench process. I'm very impressed that they were 'suprised to find bainite' in a chromium-molybdenum alloyed steel subject to a regimented transformation. That's what the composition was invented for.

TL;DR - Cambridge is producing PhDs of this calibre these days? Has Harry Bhadeshia retired?

Hmm, THE Materials Oracle is not impressed... twice.

I'd like to know what the (apparently substantiated) claims of extra strength are based on, then.

Hmm, THE Materials Oracle is not impressed... twice.

I'd like to know what the (apparently substantiated) claims of extra strength are based on, then.

I blame logging in on an unfamiliar PC and liberal use of the 'Back' button hehe

The thing is, I have no issue with the assertion of enhanced mechanical properties. What I take issue with is the assertion that samples of material used for comparison are anywhere near the upper strength levels obtainable in bulk samples of steels we can already readily (and cheaply) achieve. It's like claiming that you've discovered a phenomenal new way to generate strength in commodity plastics by comparing drawn poly(ethene) film to bulk poly(ethene), and pretending Spectra doesn't exist.

Hmm, so you figure this is just a bunch of journos jerking off in our faces by copypasta-ing the same bad science reporting?

Hmm, so you figure this is just a bunch of journos jerking off in our faces by copypasta-ing the same bad science reporting?

I'd call it bad understanding of good science. You can sell refrigerators to the Inuit with the right marketing.

I'd like to have a proper read of these papers first. But let it be said, there's some utter dross published in supposedly-peer reviewed journals all the time these days. And I wouldn't discount what happens on those occassions the UK invents something awesome that puts the other side of the pond into a jealous tizz.