AlphaDogg

I have had my bike with aluminum frame since April. Since then, it has seen heavy use. Over 1100mi on it since the date of purchase. Inevitably, when I lean it against something to lock it up, it gets scratched. Some of the scratches are light, some are deep enough to uncover bare aluminum. Is there something I should do to prevent oxidization? Should I be worried about oxidization? It spends 95% of its time in dry conditions, with very limited rain-riding. When I'm not riding it, it stays in the garage.

fietsbob

If you are prone to worrying, you will ..

Add: clear nail polish will do a metal covering job.

FanaticMN

Aluminum oxidation is self-limiting (think about all the bare aluminum screen doors you've seen).

UberGeek

https://www.historyofaluminum.com/usage.php

HillRider

If you are concerned you can touch up the scratches using Testors model paint or nail polish. The former is available at any hobby shop and the later at any Wal-Mart, both is a bewildering range of colors. One should be close.

Otherwise automobile wax will prevent oxidation but it isn't a serious problem unless the bare aluminum is exposed to a lot of salt.

AEO

aluminium is very resistant to corrosion by water(H2O) and salt(NaCl).
it's very weak against ammonia (NH3) and mercury.

It's also does not like being in contact with other metals because of galvanic corrosion.

Bare aluminium is not possible in open air, because the outside layer oxidises upon contact with oxygen.

AlphaDogg

I think I will buy some blue, white and black paint or nail polish to try to match my bike's blue color as closely as possible.

That's good to know before I do any winter riding in the snow and ice. I'm not entirely sure that I will be doing winter riding, but it's nice to know before I do it, if I do it.

AlphaDogg

Aluminum really doesn't like mercury, you're right.

lewd reed

If the paint is scratched to the bare metal, the oxidization will indeed start to fester around that area. You might find though, that it's not really noticeable - especially if you touch up the spot before much moisture gets in there.

My Cannondale has a few oxidization cancers - one particularly ugly one on the rear brake stop. I've spoken with a reputable enameler, who informs me that it is not uncommon on aluminum frames where the finish has been breached right through, and that it is simply more noticeable under clear coat on bare metal like mine.

From the sound of things though, you aint too worried about throwing it against the rail to chain it up, so I can't see you being to fussed about a little under-coat blemish.

fietsbob

Wrap the frame with tape , old inner-tube opened up makes a decent tape for that.

Chombi

To some point it is, but if the material is continually exposed to corrosives, it can still corrode to the point of perforation. Back in the 80's, I remember seeing a bus in the Milwakee Greyhound station with its rear aluminum body panels "swiss chessed" with what looked to be millions of little jagged holes from being corroded by the winter road salt spray continuously. We always think of aluminum as a corrosive resistant material but seeing that, convinced me that Aluminum can corrode just as bad as steel in some conditions.

Chombi

MNBikeCommuter

My '95 Cannondale hybrid has 17k Minnesota winter miles on it. The salt does cause "bubbly" corrosion on the bare aluminum, which spreads under the surrounding paint. I just scrape it off with a screw driver, sand it lightly, and paint over with a metal primer and matching paint (black). More of an issue is that the rims corrode a bit around the stem hole, making it impossible to remove the tube without ruining it if I get lazy and don't periodically clean out the hole before it gets to that point.