According to its inventor: no iPhone or MacBook using Liquidmetal alloy for several years (interview summary)

Liquid metal, a name that flourishes
good hi-tech and has the art of making those who expect products fantasize
spectacular and innovative from Apple. Indeed, following the
technology buyoutcarried out by the apple firm, we

discussed it at length here, of therumors
recentwere counting on large-scale use of these alloys
metal for the new iPhone expected in 2012. But the interview with
Atakan Peker, one of the inventors of these alloys comes to calm
his hopes while giving birth to others!

For him, technology will not benot usable on a large scale
for several more years.

Back to the most important points of
this particularly interesting interviewin which it is confirmed
that Apple used this alloy to…
the iPhone 3G SIM card eject needle:

In theinterview,
Atakan indicates that:

• Liquidmetal is the trade name ofnew alloys
  metallic, they have a molecular structure different from alloys
  classic, approaching that of glass

• These alloys have the particularity of being: very resistant to
  scratches, corrosion and can take complex shapes. They
  resemble gray stainless steel in terms of external appearance
  but the surface can take several aspects: satin, shiny or
  brushed aluminum appearance. According to him, the benefits for the consumer should be the
  robustness and aesthetics of cases or frames for example

• the technology has not really been adapted to industrial production
  when he was in charge. He estimates that an investment of between 300
  and $500 million over 3 to 5 years is necessary to achieve
  large-scale industrial technology (Editor's note: that necessary for
  be able to use it in iPhone or MacBook)

• Even if Samsung or Nokia have used these alloys occasionally in the
  past, currently Apple has an exclusive right of use. The researcher thinks
  however, other companies will be able to have access to the technology.

In conclusion, Atakan speaks on the short or medium term use of
material, he plans (hopes) two: firstly to replace
existing parts (substitution) but also and above all in a product
"revolutionary" made possible only thanks to this technology and which
would make it very difficult to copy with the materials classically used in
the hi-tech industry.

We understand, the iPhone 5 (or 6 or other new iPhone) should not
have a “Liquidmetal” back… Plan this for the iPad 9 or 10 rather
😉

founder of the site. Computer engineer and Internet specialist where he has held various positions of responsibility, Laurent has been passionate about mobility since the arrival of "PDAs" in the 90s. Journalist for 4 years for the magazine Team Palmtops (Posse Presse) and author of several books on the iPad published by Pearson.