Sumitomo Metals’ 3-Layer Clad Sheet Adopted to Bicycle Brake

Sumitomo Metal Industries announced on Friday the firm’s 3-layer clad steel sheet, developed by Sumitomo Metal Naoetsu, was adopted to disk brake rotor material for mountain bike of Shimano, Japanese major bicycle component maker. The sheet has high abrasion resistance and radiation performance which improves braking performance and reduces weight of brake system. The firm aims to cultivate other applications of the sheet.

Sumitomo Metal Naoetsu developed the 3-layer clad steel sheet as rotor material in response to Shimano’s requirement. Commonly, stainless sheet is used to disk brake rotor of bicycle. Especially, brake performance decreases when rotor is heated by continuous brake in downhill for sports-specific mountain bike. Shimano has required rotor material which has high abrasion resistance and radiation performance.

The sheet can transfer heat to rotor surface through aluminum from stainless sheet in braking time and expands radiation area. The sheet can reduces increased temperature in braking period by half.

Sumitomo Metal Naoetsu has one of dedicated rolling mill for clad sheet in the world and mass-produces clad sheet. Stainless sheet for 3-layer clad sheet is martensite stainless steel and increased decree of hardness by heat treatment.