Better Aluminums
It is being predicted that Apple’s next iPhone will adopt a new aluminum material for its metal case in order to avoid another Bendgate. A promising candidate is aluminum 7000, which has a strength approximately 1.6 times that of the aluminum metal cases of existing iPhones. Aluminum 7000 is widely used in racing bicycles and the like.
Samsung Electronics adopted metal instead of plastic for the Galaxy S6. Specifically, it opted for the aluminum 6013 alloy for a better combination with its Gorilla Glass 4. Used mainly in aircraft, automobiles, and yachts, this aluminum alloy is 1.5 times stronger and 1.2 times more scratch-resistant than aluminum 6063, one of the metal materials widely used in smartphones.
In the meantime, Gorilla Glass 4 is used for both the front and back surfaces of the Galaxy S6 for durability. This glass is 25 percent thinner yet much more resistant to failure than Gorilla Glass 3.
Sapphire Glass is increasing in popularity, too. The next iPhone is likely to come with the glass, and Kyocera and Huawei have already unveiled Sapphire Glass phones. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were going to use the glass as well, but could not as the manufacturer, GTAT, filed for bankruptcy protection.
At present, Corning is working on Project Fire to mix sapphire and Gorilla Glass together. The former is highly resistant to scratching, but is rather vulnerable to a side impact. The latter has a high level of strength but is vulnerable to scratches. Corning’s new glass display product has all the benefits of both types of glass and is scheduled to be put on the market within this year.