According to reports, Apple's new patent refers directly to the titanium alloy process, focusing on the progress of the titanium alloy industry chain. Up to now, Apple has obtained 8 patents related to titanium alloy materials. In addition, the Apple iPhone 15 high-end series Ultra is named the same as the Apple Watch titanium alloy series. If Apple’s new titanium alloy technology is applied to the middle frame of the new generation of mobile phones, it will bring about iterative demand for polishing equipment.
As early as January 2021, Apple obtained a patent for a "semi-gloss treatment method for titanium metal", which involves a process that combines sandblasting and etching with a chemical anodizing process to achieve the desired surface effect; in May 2022, Apple Obtained the patent authorization of "process for creating a textured surface on titanium alloy". According to PatentlyApple statistics, up to now, Apple has obtained 8 patents related to titanium alloy materials. In addition, the Apple iPhone 15 high-end series Ultra is named the same as the Apple Watch titanium alloy series. If Apple’s new titanium alloy technology is applied to the middle frame of the new generation of mobile phones, it will bring about iterative demand for polishing equipment.
However, titanium alloy materials also have difficulties in processing and low yield. Due to the characteristics of high strength, low thermal conductivity, and high chemical activity, the mechanical processing of titanium alloys is relatively difficult. At present, most of the processing of titanium alloy products adopts cutting and grinding processing technology, which needs a diamond abrasive belt, spherical bonded abrasive grinding head, poly Special components such as crystal superhard material tools and different CBN grinding wheels (brazed grinding wheels, electroplated grinding wheels and ceramic grinding wheels) are processed. Taking the middle frame of a mobile phone as an example, according to Aibang Polymer data, the overall yield rate of a titanium alloy mobile phone middle frame is about 30%-40%, which is far lower than 80% of an aluminum alloy middle frame.
Not surprisingly, the iPhone 15 Ultra should be the first mobile phone to use a titanium case. But Apple has actually tried this material on other products. At the fall conference in September this year, it was released together with the iPhone 14 series, and there was also an Apple Watch Ultra. This smartwatch, no matter in terms of price positioning or product specifications, is a brand-new product system.
AppleWatchUltra is equipped with a titanium case. Regarding the advantages of this material, Apple’s official description is that “titanium can ingeniously balance weight and sturdiness, and is more resistant to corrosion.” On mobile phones and other mainstream smart devices, the most common casing materials are still the stainless steel and aluminum alloy we mentioned at the beginning. The former is stronger and shinier, but heavier; the latter is lighter, and has the advantage of being lightweight, but is generally sturdy. Titanium can better balance hardness and weight, that is, it can be light and hard.
The use of titanium alloys in Apple mobile phones has created a new path for titanium in the civilian field and has also created new product areas for more titanium companies.
Contact
TEL: +8618992731201
FAX: 0917-3873009
EMAIL: zhangjixia@bjygti.com
ADD: 1502, Block A, Chuang Yi Building No. 195, Gaoxin Avenue, High-tech Development Zone, Baoji City, Shaanxi, China
