Thread: Hey backcountry.com, skis aren't made of titanium!

http://www.backcountry.com/rossignol-super-s7-ski
http://www.backcountry.com/volkl-mantra-alpine-ski
http://www.backcountry.com/volkl-katana-alpine-ski
http://www.backcountry.com/salomon-bbr-10.0-ski
http://www.backcountry.com/atomic-atlas-ski
http://www.backcountry.com/blizzard-cochise-ski
There's plenty more, you get the idea though.

While we're at it, bindings aren't made of titanium either:

http://www.backcountry.com/salomon-z12-ti-ski-binding
I'd love me some titanium salomons. At least this actually have *some* titanium, but the description is still quite the stretch.

Time to teach some marketing writers that titanal is not titanium, it's an aluminum alloy.

Titanal, pics or it did not happen!

In BC.com's defense, pretty much everyone (including solomon's website) says the Z12 Ti's are made out of titanium. Maybe they have some Ti hardware or something?

the track that the heel piece clicks into is titanium. it saves 12g from steel.

deceptive advertising

This is why I keep buying skis from Backcountry.com and returning them after a few days for a full refund. I want some titanium skis, damnit!

Lots of people, including copywriters and editors at online retailers, don't realize Titanal and titanium are not the same thing.

Originally Posted by bfree

I'd love me some titanium salomons. At least this actually have *some* titanium, but the description is still quite the stretch.

Time to teach some marketing writers that titanal is not titanium, it's an aluminum alloy.

How much do you think a titanium 916 would cost? That would be pretty bad ass though.

Originally Posted by soups818

How much do you think a titanium 916 would cost? That would be pretty bad ass though.

The titanium binding track on the 912s always sucked though. It was lighter, but the tiniest crack would end up breaking the whole thing.

Originally Posted by davieboot

The titanium binding track on the 912s always sucked though. It was lighter, but the tiniest crack would end up breaking the whole thing.

I was thinking more of full titanium heel and toe pieces and keep the track and other thin pieces that need the elasticity steel.

Cost is not the only reason that skis use Titanal instead of Titanium. Titanium would be a pretty shitty material for use in skis.

True. Its specific bending stiffness is not much better than steel and far worse than aluminum.

According to this there is a teeny tiny amount of Titanium actually in it.

That is the worst written wikipedia page I've read. Ever.

TitAnal is the most awesomely named material ever...

My girl broke two of those titanium tracks last year and shes not exactly dropping cliffs

Originally Posted by nickel

That is the worst written wikipedia page I've read. Ever.

It's translated from German. I'm sure it's fine in German. Google translation, not so much.

Originally Posted by iggyskier

TitAnal is the most awesomely named material ever...

Yes indeed. My FSAE team just got donated a couple of workstations from titanus, an equally awesome name.

why hack on ski companies? Bikes have been "titanium" for years yet the actual amount of titanium in the alloy is something like 2.5%?
Titanium by itself is super brittle yet it alloys with pretty much everything, it is the "Nymphomaniac metal". TITANAL for sure.

Originally Posted by waxman

why hack on ski companies? Bikes have been "titanium" for years yet the actual amount of titanium in the alloy is something like 2.5%?
Titanium by itself is super brittle yet it alloys with pretty much everything, it is the "Nymphomaniac metal". TITANAL for sure.

ummm. no. Titanium bikes are made out of titanium. Like most metals, the titanium that actually gets used is an alloy. The most common alloy used for bikes is titanium 3/2.5, which is approximately 94% titanium, 3% Vanadium, 2.5% Aluminum, with the remainder being small amounts of other metals. There are a couple other Ti alloys that gets used, all of which are at least ~90% titanium.

And where are you getting that it's brittle? It has better elastic qualities than either steel or aluminum (and by a considerable margin).

Originally Posted by toast2266

And where are you getting that it's brittle? It has better elastic qualities than either steel or aluminum (and by a considerable margin).

Agree that properly welded Ti alloy is not as brittle as Al alloy. Al alloy is far more prone to cycling fatigue than steel alloys or Ti alloys.

But, as a general rule, Ti alloys are more brittle (i.e., less elastic) than steel alloys.

Originally Posted by Big Steve

Agree that properly welded Ti alloy is not as brittle as Al alloy. Al alloy is far more prone to cycling fatigue than steel alloys or Ti alloys.

But, as a general rule, Ti alloys are more brittle (i.e., less elastic) than steel alloys.

yeah - you're right. I said elasticity but meant elongation. I still wouldn't call Ti "super brittle" though.

Big Steve
You do not understand what that Chart means.
Modulus of elasticity is a measure of a materials stiffness. Higher E-Modulus means higher Stiffness. Nothing to do with ductility or elongation.

Originally Posted by bfree

Yes indeed. My FSAE team just got donated a couple of workstations from titanus, an equally awesome name.

God that is so, so incredibly awesome.