“Late last month, Macotakara reported that Apple had ordered carbon fiber components for an unknown product from a Japanese company. The order was said to be too large to simply be a sample, but no other details on the part were revealed,” Eric Slivka reports for MacRumors. “Macotakara now reports that the shipments are actually the result of a long-standing partnership between Apple and the carbon fiber company dating back at least three years.”
Slivka reports, “Apple’s interest in carbon fiber is well-known, and several rumors had suggested that Apple was at least toying with the idea of using a carbon fiber rear shell on the iPad 2 to increase strength while decreasing weight. Those efforts obviously did not pan out, but it seems clear that Apple continues to be interested in the material.”
Read more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Lynn Weiler” for the heads up.]
Related articles:
RUMOR: Apple ordering large number of carbon fiber parts for new mystery product – September 26, 2012
Apple patent application details colorful, durable carbon fiber devices – September 1, 2011
RUMOR: Apple’s next-gen iPad may have carbon fiber body – February 25, 2011
Of course Apple is interested in carbon fiber. At one point, CF was so popular that companies were faking the look using polyester fabrics. When properly implemented, CF can provide serious weight and stiffness advantages.
Several months ago i read an article about injection molding CF components using a resin infused with chopped up fibers. The cured material retained a significant fraction of the material properties of lay-up CF. That could change the economics for a mass-produced product.
Questions will be asked about the enviro footprint CF leaves behind both in the production stage and device end of life disposal.
As opposed to your plastic Samesung products filled with toxins?
Really? Did you just say that? WOW! We have been recycling plastic since the late 80’s asshole! CF not so much.
Go to hell HUGO!
You tree hugging-commie!
Navin… you are clearly delusional and require immediate intervention. Trees allow you to breath asshole and guess what…. apples grow on trees!~
Are you aware of the energy and material requirements to recycling plastics? And why did you skip over the toxins part?
What toxins? Oh yes the same ones found in every modern day device! Got it! iSheeps just make me laugh! Unbelievable!
These ones, dumbass:
http://ifixit.org/3443/chemical-analysis-reveals-that-new-phones-have-fewer-toxics/
Apple paid propaganda. ifxit come on man! Kind of like iDid your girlfriend.
iSheep? Lol Fandroids think they’re so smart becuase they inevitably figure out how to use their unintuitive crapware.
Ad for stevesdead.net on this page. Great job, MDN. I hope you enjoy the money you make from allowing this crap on your site.
MDN does not pick the Ads, they just pick-up the cheques.
Thanks for letting me know about stevesdead.net
Too funny
I suppose these carbon fiber parts will work rather well with the Liquidmetal components.
/s
If Apple starts using carbon fiber shells, I’m sure the news media will spin it as carbon fiber is some sort of a health hazard for humans.
Only if you eat it !
And I thought fiber was suppose to be good for you. 🙂