Cycling UK Forum

Do Shimano hubs (alfine, nexus) use parts made from alloys of copper?
Alloys like brass and bronze.
Concerned about corrosion due to EP additives.

I haven't noticed any copper alloy bits in them.

Copper isn't a very strong metal, so is unlikely to be used other than for electrical bits/wire.
Is there any particular reason you ask?

It could well be that the main hubshell contains some copper. I don't know which alloy they use, but 7075 (fairly common in bike parts) is 1.2–1.6% copper. Some grades of stainless can also include small amounts of copper.
I'd also look at things like spacing shims inside the freehub, which could be brass.

If you extend the hub to a wheel, spoke nipples are mostly nickel-plated brass.

It's fairly common for aluminium to be alloyed with other elements to produce components for certain applications so it's quite possible that copper is used in alloy hubs.

Bit of bedtime reading for anyone who needs a bit more info. https://www.totalmateria.com/page.aspx? ... =ktn&NM=73

Not copper in aluminum but alloys like brass and bronze.
Concerned about corrosion due to EP additives.

I assume you're talking about hub gears ?
I had a cursory look through this video of RJ The bike Guy reassembling a Nexus, showing all the bits.
I didn't spot any copper/bronze shims/thrust washers etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNuyvIZvCrs&t=952s

Thanks for link to video - I think that while the folks who put together Sturmey Archer gear hubs back between the wars, say, would have recognised the design, they'd have blanched somewhat at the complexity!

PT1029 wrote: ↑30 Jul 2022, 12:10pm Copper isn't a very strong metal, so is unlikely to be used other than for electrical bits/wire.
Is there any particular reason you ask?

Just a comment on this ........... not bike related I suppose.

Copper is a very tough metal, and that makes it sort of "strong".
Try machining it. It wears out drills and blades.
There's a reason why they make bushes using copper, and tubing and pipework. It's a tough metal.

crg wrote: ↑30 Jul 2022, 10:12am Do Shimano hubs (alfine, nexus) use parts made from alloys of copper?
Alloys like brass and bronze.
Concerned about corrosion due to EP additives.

No they don't.

Mick F wrote: ↑31 Jul 2022, 2:16pm CUT
1-Copper is a very tough metal, and that makes it sort of "strong".
Try machining it. It wears out drills and blades.
2-There's a reason why they make bushes using copper, and tubing and pipework. It's a tough metal.

1-Copper isn't strong it's ductile...due to the microstructure which is cubic face-centered,
2-The reason is that copper is ductile and corrosion-restistant...