美国特种自行车公司推出一种带有变形铝基复合材料框架的山区自行车。这种越障自行车代表则Al_2O_3/Al6061复合材料在消费产品中的首次重要应用。 制框架的管子由带有能耐Al_2O_3粒子剧烈磨损的陶瓷挤压模的普通挤压机挤压成形,然后用标准的钨极惰性气体保护焊工艺进行焊接。框架被热处理至满强度,其它的喷漆和装饰工序与普通整体式铝框架一样。 这种自行车于1991年2月中在美国和加拿大约1000个零售点出售,每辆约1400美元。 American Specialty Bicycles has launched a mountain bike with a modified aluminum-based composite frame. This crossover bicycle representative was the first time that Al 2 O 3 / Al 6061 composites were used in consumer products. The tube of the frame is extruded from a conventional extruder with a ceramic extrusion die that is highly abrasive against Al 2 O 3 particles and then welded using a standard tungsten inert gas shielded welding process. Frames are heat-treated to full strength. Other painting and decorating processes are the same as for regular monolithic aluminum frames. The bike was sold at about 1,000 retail outlets in the United States and Canada in mid-February 1991 at about $ 1,400 each.