Thread: Frame at Risk?
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Old 11-17-17 | 02:02 PM
  #3  
sch
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From: Mountain Brook. AL
I would suspect this to be early manifestation of joint bond degradation between the aluminum and carbon, usually some sort of epoxy.
It is mostly a surface phenomenon hence the bubbling and likely the epoxy inside the joint is intact. Aluminum oxidation is possible
but I think the epoxy is a more likely explanation. Sanding down the area would help delineate this but can be deferred. This is
almost certainly not a butt joint but a slip joint with some tubing inside the other and epoxy as the interface. When the paint begins
to pop off you can investigate further but I would keep riding.

You can google aluminum corrosion and get various opinions eg: https://www.proboat.com/2014/12/keep...t-on-aluminum/
This kind of cosmetic joint degradation was common on Trek bikes in the '90s when straight carbon tubes were bonded to cast aluminum
lugs mostly clear coated rather than painted.

Last edited by sch; 11-17-17 at 02:08 PM.
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