KHON KAEN: The engineering faculty of Khon Kaen University on Wednesday revealed what it says are the world's first "silk bicycles", featuring lightweight, low-cost silk-resin frames.
The frames were developed within the faculty, Asst Prof Phanomkorn Khwakhong said.
They were made of a silk and resin compound, wrapped with silk threads and left to dry for three days. It was hoped they would prove a popular substitute for the far more expensive carbon fibre frames used on top end bikes, he said.
He said a carbon fibre bicycle frame retailed at 40,000-100,000 baht while a silk-resin frame cost only 15,000-20,000 baht and was also much stronger than the aluminium frames found on many bikes.
"The silk-resin frames tolerate about five times the load and about eight times the tensile force and are about 30 times more flexible than an aluminium frame... Silk-resin frames and aluminium frames have similar weights," Mr Phanomkorn said.
The engineering faculty of Khon Kaen University had patented the process and was ready for a commercial partnership with interested investors, he said. He hoped it would benefit Thai silk producers.
Video by Chakkrapan Natanri