Will the carbon chassis to deliver iPhone 5 to peel?

In late September there information that Apple has ordered a large number of Japanese parts from carbon fiber. Order quantities are such that we can speak otherwise the launch of a new gadget into production, or the start of a large-scale testing. PCMag publication discusses the prospects of release of the iPhone and iPad, made of carbon fiber.

In pursuit of light and a great phone, Apple has decided to go (back) to aluminum and to use it as a material for the new iPhone 5. As a result, the smartphone was smooth, very lightweight, having, however, one problem: it is easy to scratch at the corners.

Regardless of whether the criticism is valid or not, the complaints of users every day more and more, and the press has dubbed their problem. Best anodizing could become a good solution, but the Apple in the past few years secretly working on another option - carbon fiber.

In early 2009, the guru of carbon fiber in the company of Kevin Kenny Apple filed a patent for enhanced telephone building, which may consist of composite plastic with strengthening with carbon fiber framework. This is not surprising, since cyclists can learn to Kenny CEO innovative carbon bike manufacturer Kestrel.

Light weight and extraordinary strength of carbon fiber makes it a natural element stiffness for professional bicycle parts, as well as camera tripods, race cars and airplanes. By itself, a carbon fiber is 3 times lighter and 4 times stronger than steel.

Why has not produced carbon smartphones?

The reason why carbon fiber is still not commonly used in most consumer devices often is the price. However, this is too simple an explanation, given that the price of some phones sometimes comes to $ 1000 - that is, room for maneuver can spend quite a bit more money on the frame. The real reason is that the carbon fiber is a number of difficulties in the manufacture of it phones, tablets and laptops. First among them is a low melting point, which makes handling difficult and boring carbon without deformation.

Thus, the carbon fiber is best suited for homogeneous parts that can be formed by a minimum of connection points, for example, glued pieces of carbon fiber bicycle frame. In this regard, the back cover is certainly a great candidate. By the way, already has protective covers for iPhone, which use a thin sheet of carbon fiber to protect your phone from drops and scratches.

Unfortunately, the problems are not limited to carbon difficulty of shaping. He also has a very low thermal conductivity, making it ideal for items such as tripods for cameras, when they should be used in cold weather. But in the case of telephones and computers requires, on the contrary, the heat released by their electronics. That is, carbon-fiber casing, like plastic, a separate radiator, which eliminates the creation of a closed design, such as the new Macbook, where cooling is based on the aluminum unibody.

Coincidentally, carbon fiber, like plastic, does not protect against electromagnetic interference, so that the electronic noise is emitted into the environment, any phone can be used carbon fiber metal EMI shield, which will simultaneously serve as a radiator. But this raises another problem - the metal shield back adds a bit of weight, while the use of carbon fiber is directed at its reduction.

CFRP opposed to aluminum or steel in many ways. He is amazingly tough and protects gear from dents or deformation, but only reaches its limit; it breaks apart and does not bend. Therefore, for such a body should be applied more technical requirements, rather than to a similar metal versions.