Titanium crampons and axes

[mtnview]

Just wondering if titanium has been used for crampons or ices axes or is there some inherent difficulty with the material. I know that it is substantially lighter than steel but just as strong and has been successfully used in the bicycle industry.

 

Regards

[Squid]

I've heard rumors that it becomes more brittle at colder temps.

 

I'm sure CBS and Frieh would be delighted to give a quick seminar on the loss of ductility in titanium as T->0.

[Dru]

Maybe this question should have been asked in the newbies forum where it is Ok to ask stupid questions? There are dozens of different Ti ice axes from various companies. Got any other great new ideas? Ever wonder why no one makes an expandable chock, maybe something spring loaded, to replace clunky hexes?

[fenderfour]

As Dru pointed out - there are Ti axes available.

 

Ti crampons were made for a very short time, but the expense of manfacturing them made retailing the product difficult. Beyond that, they didn't dramtically improve on existing equipment.

 

Ti is generally not as tough as steel and not as lightweight as aluminum.

[mtnview]

Well, for those who have the gift of misunderstanding, Dru.

I was more focused on whether the advantages of aluminum and steel in crampons could be realized through the use of titanium.

I know it has been successfully used in the bike industry and over time the cost has come down.