According to a recently granted patent application, Apple is researching the use of machined titanium with unique properties for future MacBooks, iPads, and iPhones.
If you are well versed in the materials used in Apple products, you might know that the tech giant already produces Titanium Apple Watch. However, it looks like the company is researching ways to expand the use of the same element in other future products.
Newly-granted patents suggest Apple could be working on titanium MacBook, iPhone, and iPad
In an application entitled “Titanium parts with a blasted surface structure,” Issued by the US Patent and Trademark Office, the Cupertino tech giant explains a process that could give titanium a gloss-like finish while maintaining the sturdiness it brings to a product.
Apple then notes that portable devices these days have several ‘operational components’ like cameras, displays, etc. Enclosures of the devices can be made of various metals, but it is challenging to process them in a way that offers an ‘attractive surface finish’ as the end result.
“This paper describes various embodiments that relate generally to techniques for etching a titanium part. More particularly, the described embodiments relate to systems and methods for restoring gloss finish of the etched titanium part.”
The patent then explains the technical process that goes behind producing glossy titanium of combining blasting and itching with the chemical anodization process to achieve the desired finish.
“The fine-scale roughness of the etched titanium part and the blasted and etched titanium part is beneficial for hiding surface defects, such as weld lines and crystallographic grain structure differences. In contrast, only blasting a titanium part in a conventional manner fails to impart benefits like hiding weld lines.”
Titanium is much sturdier than the aluminum used by the tech giant in its current products. Due to the material being lighter, the company can use a far thinner piece of titanium to get the same strength and rigidness as offered by the Aluminium sheet on its device. As a result, the titanium casing on the device will prove to be lighter.
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