Easton’s Tiny Innovation Is Huge
Easton has an eighty-three year history of leading the market by developing new materials and innovative products. Easton has been manufacturing sporting goods using carbon-fiber composites since 1989 and has been the leading brand of composite bicycle handlebars since their introduction in 1998. Now Easton’s research and development team is proud to present a revolutionary breakthrough in composite materials and manufacturing.

The Next Frontier
Nanotechnology is the next frontier in scientific research and advanced manu-facturing. Nanotechnology deals with the manipulation of materials on an atomic or molecular scale measured in billionths of a meter (nanometers). Scientists worldwide are spending countless man-hours and billions of dollars researching uses for nanotechnology in the areas of electronics, medicine, robotics and structural reinforcement.

Enhanced Resin System
The weakest areas in a traditional carbon-fiber component are the tiny spaces between the fibers that contain only resin. To radically improve strength and toughness in these critical areas, Easton Scientists have developed an innovative Enhanced Resin System using carbon nanotubes (CNT). Carbon nanotubes are an array of carbon atoms arranged in a pattern of hexagons and pentagons (similar to the pattern found on soccer balls). These structures can be manufactured in tubular shapes one billionth of a meter in diameter, hence the name nanotube. Carbon nanotubes have been called “the strongest fiber that will ever be made”. Nanotubes have a strength-to-weight ratio orders of magnitude greater than steel.

Easton’s proprietary process impregnates the resin/fiber matrix with evenly distributed carbon nanotubes. The addition of real carbon nanotubes greatly improves the toughness and strengthens Easton’s already legendary components.

Material Evolution
It’s hard to believe now, but years ago wood was the material of choice for many sporting goods. The advent of strong aluminum and titanium alloys made wood obsolete. In recent years, high-performance carbon-fiber components have one-upped their metal counterparts in terms of both strength and weight. And now, with the advent of CNT nanocomposites, Easton has unleashed a new breed of superior bicycle components.

A Strong Future
Beginning in 2005, many Easton carbon components will feature carbon nanotube (CNT) technology. This is just the beginning. Easton is committed to continued research and development using these exciting new materials. Watch closely as Easton introduces new super-strong products implementing nanotechnology in the coming years.

Easton sweats the small stuff.