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Board Materials


Material Properties

Skateboards must be stiff enough to prevent damage, flexible enough to provide impact absorbance, yet light enough to perform tricks.

Stress: is the internal distribution of forces within a body over a set area.

stress (σ) = forcearea

Strain: is the deformation of a body caused by an applied stress.

strain (ε) = elongationoriginal length

Young's Modulus: defines the relationship between stress and strain; measures the stiffness of materials.

Young's Modulus (E) = stressstrain

Brittle vs. Ductile

Brittle materials are usually very hard but break when subjected to stress. Brittle materials absorb little energy before failure.


Figure: Brittle materials normally fail suddenly leaving two pieces of material that can often be fit back together like pieces of a puzzle. 

An illustration showing the difference between brittle and ductile materials


A ductile material bends and stretches before failing. Ductile materials absorb a lot of energy before breaking.


Figure: A ductile failure is characterized by extensive plastic deformation (stretching) that occurs before the final failure.

An illustration showing the difference between brittle and ductile materials   

What's it made of?

Each part of a skateboard is composed of unique materials that are designed to optimize the overall performance.


Figure: The deck is normally made of thin layers of wood that are held together using adhesive, this is called a laminate.

Illustration of a skateboard deck

Deck

Wood is one of the best materials for impact limitation.

Bamboo

  • Strongest materials | Grain runs parallel from nose to tail
  • Yields the most 'Pop' because it holds shape the best

Canadian Maple Veneer

  • 1/16" Veneer stacked into 1/2" deck
  • Flexible, durable, easily shapeable

Baltic Birch Veneer

  • 1/16" Veneer stacked into 1/2" deck
  • Has no knots and is the cheapest to produce.

    • Wheels

    Skateboard wheels are made of a synthetic rubber which is composed of vert small stretchy chains of materials called polyurethane. The stronger the material, the longer and more interconnected the urethane chains.

       

    Polyurethane

    • High Load Capacity - Can undergo change in shape and will reform back to original shape
    • Flexible - Has a large elastic region resulting in effect elongation and recovery
    • High Tear Resistance - G-Forces created on impact attempts to tear the wheel
    • Abrasive/Impact Resistance - Shock absorber, weather and temperature proof

    Trucks

    3 types of metal are commonly used in skateboard trucks — aluminum, steel and composites, with the latter being the lightest.


    Figure: Traditional skateboard truck. 

    An illustration of a skateboard truck

    Bearings

    There are 2 types of balls used in skateboard wheel bearings — steel and ceramic.


    Figure: Ball bearings similar to those used in skateboard wheels. 

    An illustration of skateboard bearings.  

    Steel

    • DUCTILE MATERIAL IN TENSION AND COMPRESSION
    • HIGH STRENGTH-TO-WEAR RATIO
    • CARBON AND STAINLESS ARE THE MOST COMMONLY USED

    Ceramic

    • BRITTLE MATERIAL IN TENSION BUT DUCTILE IN COMPRESSION (X10 STRONGER)
    • WILL CRACK BEFORE DEFORMING
    • MADE FROM CERAMIC POWDER HARDENED ON SURFACE