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Beryllium
Beryllium is a light, stiff, and expensive metal that has received recent attention as a
potential frame material. Merlin began cooperative work with a beryllium tube manufacturer
two years ago, but our preliminary investigation revealed that the stiffness-to-weight
ratio of beryllium is extremely high-so high that it would be difficult to build a frame
with adequate flex for good ride characteristics. Furthermore, beryllium's cost is so
prohibitive that the financial wherewithal necessary to develop a frame is beyond the
resources of the bicycle industry.
Even those alloys that incorporate beryllium as their major element are so expensive that
it is doubtful any of them will ever find their way into the frame tubing market. In
addition, beryllium is toxic, although this can be managed with proper manufacturing
procedures.
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