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The "OCLV" in Trek OCLV Carbon stands for "Optimum Compaction, Low Void." It's our proprietary method of producing carbon frames and components. We invented it. We patented it. And only Trek has it. While many other bike manufacturers have tried to replicate our success in carbon development, none have succeeded. And for good reason. Discover why by reading the information below.
To create OCLV carbon, we selectively apply heat and pressure to densely compress multidirectional layers of carbon fiber. This achieves the optimum ratio of fiber to resin in order to maximize strength and minimize weight.
Voids are small, sometimes microscopic gaps between carbon layers where fatigue failures typically begin. Optimum compaction all but eliminates voids in our carbon fiber pieces and components, achieving a strength that exceeds even aerospace standards.
Specific parts are cut to shape with the fiber angle precisely directed. Many competitors, by contrast, piece parts together from random strips of carbon. Trek’s method is better, because it positions the fiber to best handle specific loads and stresses.
Another proprietary process is called Flat Ply Collation. Simply put, carbon sheets are layered in pre-calculated directions to precisely control the fiber angle in each specific part. This enables it to perform exactly as it was designed to perform.
As OCLV frame construction has become more and more sophisticated, manufacturing processes have all likewise continued to increase in complexity. As a result, it’s significantly more challenging to identify a specific frame since every frame is actually a hybrid of a variety of materials. By changing our OCLV Carbon hierarchy to Red, Black, and White, we can still “rank” frame materials without relying on associations to specific carbon fiber materials.
Trek offers three different OCLV Carbon frames; each designed to give riders the right balance of performance and value. All are handmade in the USA using our patented OCLV Carbon process.
Trek’s highest-performance carbon fiber, OCLV Red uses a significant percentage of high modulus carbon fiber arranged according to our most complex lay-up schedules.
Trek’s high-performance carbon fiber, OCLV Black employs intermediate modulus carbon fiber and our time-tested lay-up schedules.
Trek’s value-oriented performance carbon fiber, OCLV White uses predominantly standard modulus carbon fiber for outstanding value.
