Frame material is an important factor for the assessment of a pair of eyeglasses. Modern technologies used by eyewear manufacturers are granting eyeglass users with various frame materials. Metal eyeglass frames as the most original option now only account for one of the basic categories. There are also plastic eyeglass frames and even frames made of unusual materials such as wood, bone, buffalo horn, leather, precious stone and so on. In fact, these special materials are rarely used. Until now, metal frames and plastic frames are the main types, within each there are still many variations. In the history of eyeglass development, plastic frames came later than metal ones. It is now widely said that plastic eyeglass frames are lighter and more durable than metal ones. With the invention of some superb plastics such as polycarbonate and high index ones, there are even more individuals who are advocating the extra benefits offered by those plastic frames. These folks have probably ignored the advances made in the world of metals used to produce eyeglass frames deliberately or unintentionally. The truth is that metal eyeglass frames have also made significant progress during the past decades.
Until now, a lot of metals are available for the production of eyeglass frames. Some of them have eliminated most of the disadvantages that were commonly accused in the past. As a mixed of a broad range of metals, Monel features malleability and 100% corrosion resistance. The second advantage can even help wearers react with their skin chemistry. Currently, Monel has been widely used to make eyeglass frames. Titanium and beta-titanium are also advantageous frame materials. They are usually thought to be lightweight, durable, strong and corrosion-resistant. In fact, these materials are also widely used in other fields including Gemini and Apollo space capsules and medical implants. In addition, titanium frames can be made of alloys that combine titanium and other metals, like nickel or copper.
Being corrosion resistant and tarnish, beryllium eyeglass frames are often used as an alternative to titanium frames. They have similar features as titanium frames, but beryllium frames are much cheaper. Nowadays, there are still many men who wear eyeglass frames made from stainless steel. These frames are lightweight, low toxic, strong and hypoallergenic. Moreover, they are excellent resistant to corrosion, abrasion and heat. Also called memory metal, Flexon is a titanium-based alloy which was first used as a frame material by manufacturer Marchon. Even aluminum has been utilized to produce eyeglass frames. All these have enriched the options ofmetal eyeglass frames.
