What is EPS?
EPS stands for Expandable Polystyrene System. It is one kind of the new technology to produce carbon frames.
When we use the traditional technology to produce carbon frames, we need to make the material into
separate pieces during the layup.
However, using EPS process allows us to make carbon frames
in one piece and make them lighter and stronger.
EPS production process is in an effort to both
increase rigidity and safeness as well as to decrease the overall weight of the frame.
Increased
compaction will makes frames more rigid which allows the riders to have greater control of the bike
and lose less energy due to frame flex laterally.
Benefits of EPS
The EPS process will eliminate extra and unnecessary materials for our carbon frames while the compaction of carbon layers
is optimized;
therefore, it will translate into an overall weight savings.
This process also eliminates small imperfections as the result of traditional frame production methods.
These imperfections are often the causes of structural failure and they will increas the risk for
riders.
By eliminating these structural imperfections through EPS process, our carbon frames
have improved the safety and been above the industry standard.
Application
The EPS system consists in laminating carbon sheets around Polystyrene forms, with perfectly smooth surfaces,
and leaving these forms inside the mold during the pressure phase of production.
The mold expands
both due to increased heat; in addition to added air pressure leaving a controlled and optimized
thickness of carbon material
throughout the frame. The polystyrene mold is then removed when
the production process is completed.