You may be under the impression that many parts of carbon fiber bicycle accessories are made in Asia, which is actually true. Most carbon fiber products for the bicycle industry come from Taiwan or China. But some carbon fiber frames and parts are made in the United States and France.
Carbon fiber early as aerospace materials are recognized by the public, so in everyone's impression of carbon fiber products is a very advanced and tall material, then the manufacturing process of carbon fiber products should be the same technical content is very high, can only be manufactured by those strong enterprises. But this is not the case, the processing and production of high-performance carbon fiber products does require strong strength and technical level, but low-end carbon fiber and carbon fiber products are not the case, they are also very suitable for small-scale processing. Small American stores and even private workshops can process carbon. Many bicycle manufacturers can make their own bicycle frames out of carbon fiber cloth, and the manufacturing method is no different from that of large bicycle manufacturers, for example.
1, but the raw carbon fiber does come mostly from Asia
Carbon fiber products can be made of polyacrylonitrile fiber, asphalt fiber, viscose silk or phenolic fiber by carbonization. The most commonly used carbon fibers are polyacrylonitrile carbon fibers and asphalt carbon fibers. The manufacture of carbon fiber products includes four processes: fiber spinning, thermal stabilization (pre-oxidation), carbonization and graphitization. The accompanying chemical changes include dehydrogenation, cyclization, preoxidation, oxidation and deoxidation.
2, bicycles use more than one type of carbon fiber
First, the carbon fiber bicycle accessories on the frame come in a variety of forms: raw silk, fiber cloth and short fiber. Staple fibers are generally used on the pedals. Carbon fiber cloth is commonly used on car frames, and carbon fiber cloth is exactly what the name sounds like: continuous carbon fiber cloth looks a lot like a roll cloth, and it is wound around a giant reel. Raw silk is relatively rare in the bicycle industry; Only a few bicycle manufacturers have the technological capability to process carbon fiber raw silk.
Secondly, the carbon fiber frame is made from a mixture of a variety of carbon fiber bicycle accessories. Different types of carbon fiber are used in different parts of the frame for specific purposes. High-modulus fibers are expensive (because of the complexity of the process), so bike companies have wisely chosen to apply relatively small amounts of high-modulus fibers to key areas such as air ducts, lower brackets, and rear lower forks to resist pedal forces and make the bike stronger. But the high-modulus fibers are placed together with the standard modulus fibers, medium modulus fibers and high-strength fibers in the mold, resulting in the durability, performance and riding quality that a good carbon fiber frame should have.
3, in addition to carbon fiber bicycle accessories on the frame, you also need it...
The "carbon fiber" we usually say is actually carbon fiber composite materials, and carbon fiber bicycle accessories are not material accessories in the bicycle frame. That's because carbon fiber's super-high stiffness comes with a condition: When left alone, carbon fiber is very fragile and has a tendency to split and break. In order to retain its properties, the carbon fiber is soaked in epoxy resin (a gelatinous material) before entering the mold, forming a composite material. Most of the carbon fiber used in the bicycle industry is processed in this form, a process called "prepreg."
The resin will do two things. The first task is to keep the carbon fibers together. The second task is that the resin will increase toughness and durability. Slightly plasticized, it deforms when subjected to impact (such as bumping or crushing), helping to absorb blows without causing severe tearing of the fibers.
4, carbon fiber bicycle accessories grade is not developed by the bicycle company
Every bike company uses buzzwords like high modulus or "super high modulus" for their frame designs. But these terms were not invented or negotiated by bike companies. Carbon fibers are classified into different grades based on their stiffness, which is assessed according to tensile modulus or the amount of deformation under pressure. For carbon fiber, these evaluation criteria and stiffness ranges are specified by the Japan Carbon Fiber Manufacturing Association.
Most of the carbon fiber used in the bicycle industry is standard modulus or medium modulus; Some high-grade carbon fiber products will be used in the more expensive frames.
5, the more magical and expensive process is - cascade
Carbon fiber bike accessories are a great bike material for two reasons. First of all, compared to other materials we are familiar with, it has the advantages of high stiffness and low mass. Second, unlike metal, the stiffness of carbon fiber products is easier to control; Its stiffness properties are only presented in one direction, so its stiffness can be adjusted depending on how the carbon fiber composite is adjusted into a straight line or how it is placed inside the mold. This is called anisotropy. Metals, on the contrary, are isotropic and exhibit the same strength and stiffness properties in any axial direction of the material.
Engineers use anisotropic software programs to consider the carbon grade, the immersion material, the shape, size and alignment of the carbon fiber strands, and even where it is placed in the mold. This is how carbon fiber frames achieve lightness and hardness, and even have both properties at the same time. But these procedures and the manpower required are expensive. And the high-modulus carbon fibers needed to achieve demanding designs are expensive.
6, weaving is mainly for beauty...
The surface of carbon fiber products generally has a classic woven layer, which has beautiful lines, making carbon fiber products look beautiful, but in fact, this layer of woven layer is not due to the performance requirements of the product itself. The surface of carbon fiber products increases a layer of woven skin, the greater role is to prevent the surface of the product from being roofed, scratched and avoid surface depression, but the carbon fiber products frame and structure are determined by the carbon fiber layer under the surface layer.
Moreover, it is not easy to perfectly weld the braid layer of the mold edge, which involves the surface manufacturing process of the material, so it not only requires a lot of professional knowledge, but also costs a lot. So now more and more bicycles and parts are trying to skip the woven surface, and let the one-way carbon fiber as the skin of the product.      
7. All carbon fiber frames are handmade
Traditional frames are made of stainless steel and titanium alloys, but every frame, tire, handlebar, or other part made of carbon fiber cloth requires a lot of manual manufacturing.
There is almost one automation in the entire manufacturing process: a computer-controlled machine cuts the single layer of carbon fiber from the carbon fiber cloth. After that, the carbon fiber composite frame or parts must be precisely assembled in a mold in a cascading sequence, a process that has yet to be automated. In a small production line, one person may be able to assemble the entire frame in layers. In larger production lines, workers assemble specific parts of the frame, such as the lower bracket, in layers, and then pass this on to the next worker to assemble the pipe parts in layers, which are then placed in molds for curing.
Even the post-curing process - the frame is removed from the mold, cleaned, and painted - requires great care. Professional workers will inspect the frame or parts for problems, such as wrinkles or stains caused by the uneven compaction of the carbon fiber layer, which can make the frame defective.
8. Carbon fiber can be repaired!
Many people will have such a misconception: carbon fiber bicycle accessories frame or parts once damaged, it is completely finished. But in fact, this statement is not completely right, carbon fiber frame and steel frame or titanium frame, in some cases can be repaired. The treatment process is not much different: damaged parts are cut and then bridged with new materials. The new material goes through a series of processing, fixing, polishing and painting to make it match the original material. With a professional carbon fiber repair, you won't even be able to tell where the damage was.
But this job requires a high degree of expertise. There are carbon fiber repair tools on the market, but they are mainly for kayak paddles. Bicycle frames are complex, and there are many load-bearing structures that need to withstand stress during sprints and high-speed corners. If your carbon fiber bike accessories frame is damaged, you can find the manufacturer for after-sales repair, or you can find a good reputation of the third party to repair, do not try to repair yourself!
9, carbon fiber shape is easy to imitate
The heat of carbon fiber products has made a variety of unique carbon fiber frame shapes available one by one. It is also possible to tell from the outline of a frame whether it is a Pinarello or Specialized. However, the unique industrial design of the bike frame makes it particularly easy for counterfeiters to copy it.
It is very simple to make a mold from a genuine finished frame (or even from a detailed photo of the product). But materials, joints and assembly methods may be completely different. Many counterfeiters lack the ability to process complex processes and will use cheap filler materials to mimic the original appearance. "These products are not industrial in any way," Santiago Morales, director of Specialized's testing lab, said of counterfeiters. It's more like a gourd gourd."
Carbon fiber bicycles are a blessing for sports enthusiasts, and more carbon fiber products are also enriching our lives.