If you are flexible in tailoring your design around materials that you have access to, you can get by without needing to use extremely high modulus alloys like AMAG's Titanal. As you know, you can change the stiffness of your ski significantly my changing the core thickness or increase the thickness of the aluminum layers that you use. Depending on the ski characteristics I'm after, I use either 2024-T3 or 7075-T6, ranging from 0.020" to 0.040" thick. The last pair of GS skis I made used two layers of 0.025" 2024-T3. Both 2024 and 7075 sheet are readily available for use by the aviation industry. If you can't find a local supplier, you can always order it from Wicks Aircraft (www.wicksaircraft.com)
You do need to prep the material properly for bonding. I've been experimenting with different prep methods for skis in an effort of balancing cost and effort. There are products we use in aviation like AC-130 (http://www.chemical-supermarket.com/fil ... atures.pdf) that do a great job in prepping the metal for bonding, but at a cost of about $200/liter (1L does 50sqft). You can order smaller quantities at a higher $/liter to play with.
The last pair of GS skis I made were aggressively abraded with 36 grit to add some mechanical adhesion. The aluminum then underwent an acid etch and chromate conversion coating process, commonly referred to by the brand name Alodine (Henkel brand product). You can also get these products from aircraft supply outlets but you should first check with your local authorities for your best disposal methods of the Alodine solution as the solution contains chromium.
Best of luck to you!
Tetenal
Moderators: Head Monkey, kelvin, bigKam, skidesmond, chrismp
If the aluminium has bonding problems, why not use titanium?, anybody knows if has the same troubles, and why now it´s used most titanal, it´s better, cheaper, or easier to use?
And if the aluminium it´s used for its dampness properties why use titanal? it´s the stronger aluminium, that´s right, but maybe other aluminiums , weaker, has the same dampness capacity, but are cheaper and easier to found.
And if the aluminium it´s used for its dampness properties why use titanal? it´s the stronger aluminium, that´s right, but maybe other aluminiums , weaker, has the same dampness capacity, but are cheaper and easier to found.