“Future devices from Apple could be built with a super-durable and light material like carbon fiber, but could also be available in a variety of colors thanks to a composite laminate surface,” Neil Hughes reports for AppleInsider.
“Apple’s concept for coloring carbon or even glass fiber devices was revealed this week in a patent application published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and discovered by AppleInsider,” Hughes reports. “Entitled ‘Composite Laminate having an Improved Cosmetic Surface and Method of Making Same,’ it describes a composite laminate placed over the frame of the device, including a ‘scrim layer,’ to allow a product like a MacBook Pro to be painted a variety of colors.”
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Hughes reports, “Apple has shown interest in adopting carbon fiber for its devices for years. As far back as 2008, the company was said to be looking at the possibility of using carbon fiber to build a lighter MacBook Air, though those plans never panned out. The company’s continued interest in carbon fiber was demonstrated in a patent application in 2009 in a 9-page filing. In fact, the latest 8-page application made public this week is a division of that separate filing, first made in October of 2007.”
More in the full article, including Apple’s patent application illustrations, here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Arline M.” for the heads up.]
How well does carbon fiber dissipate heat? That is a huge part of the function of the unibody aluminum iMac and MacBook cases, in addition to rigidity and, of course, beautiful design. Certainly carbon fiber could still be formed to beautiful designs, and is rigid and light. If it is also a functional heat sync, I could see it being used. Otherwise, the aluminum is gorgeous, efficient and meets several engineering requirements.
I’m wondering when/if we will see MacBook cases made of Liquidmetal.
I believe that aluminum currently holds a significant thermal conductivity advantage over carbon fiber, although there appears to be a great deal of effort ongoing to enhance the thermal conductivity of carbon composites.
Not very well, but it is very strong, so a carbon fiber shell of equivalent strength would be thinner.
Another issue with carbon fiber is that it is pretty opaque to radio frequencies so it interferes with wifi, bluetooth, gsm, and all the other radios modern devices rely on.
The could combine the old programming language, the new iPod and the iCloud streaming into one new product ‘Carbon Nano Tube iPhone’? No? I won’t give up my day job then…
“Carbon fiber devices”… iBike? iCanoe? iSkate?
Sounds like carbon fibre could be an ideal material for the iPad—which, brilliant as it is, is also heavier than it might be.