近日，Patentlyapple網站又發布了蘋果的數項最新專利申請，公司計劃在未來電子產品中使用新的耐用材料。日前公布的蘋果專利文件詳細描述了包括從iPhone到Macbook和Apple Watch在內的各種產品中使用鈦金屬、鈦合金和“混合塑料”的計劃。

　　塑料粘合提高防水性能

　　其中一項專利申請，詳細闡述了利用把塑料與多孔金屬粘合的工藝，改進未來蘋果電子產品的方法。

　　用戶無需再為高大上的產品裹上一層難看的塑料薄膜，蘋果這項專利申請，闡述了利用熱塑性塑料提高蘋果產品防水性能，密封內部元器件暴露在外部分的方法。

　　專利申請材料稱，“粘合兩種材料的粘合劑強度，可能在一定程度上提高電子產品的抗沖擊性，使產品更結實、耐用。”

　　鈦有什么好處?

　　鋁合金機身的iPhone就夠漂亮了吧?不過下次購買iPhone時，機身材質可能會迎來大變革。

　　大多數蘋果電子產品機身和內部結構都使用了鋁合金材料，在噴涂彩色涂層前，銀灰色外觀顯得很高大上。但外觀顏色較深的機身，通常使用鋯及其合金，不但價格昂貴而且加工困難。

　　相比之下鈦及其合金材料價格不高，而且保留了鋁合金重量輕、容易加工的優點。利用物理氣相沉積工藝，可以方便地對鈦及其合金“美容”。

　　對于深空灰和亮黑色iPhone來說，鈦合金材料更高的韌性非常有幫助，尤其是考慮到亮黑色iPhone的掉漆問題。

　　這兩項專利申請聽起來頗有前景。如果蘋果未來把這兩項專利申請用于生產中，它可能會推出一些非常堅固、有吸引力的產品。

　　部分原文如下：

　　Device Structures Formed from Porous Metal Bonded to Plastic

　　Apple's invention generally relates to bonding a plastic to a metal, and more particularly to filling pores or other apertures in the metal with a material that bonds more strongly with the plastic than does the metal alone. Typically, the material filling the pores may create a chemical or mechanical bond having higher bond energy than a metal-plastic bond. The material may be an adhesive, such as a heat-curable adhesive, in certain embodiments.

　　Pores may be formed in the metal substrate by chemically etching the metal, using nano-molding technology to create pits or other apertures in the metal, blasting the metal, abrading them metal, and so on. The resulting pores (or other apertures) may accept the adhesive, which may fully or partially fill the pores. The adhesive may be sprayed or brushed on, or otherwise deposited. In some embodiments, the metal may be dipped in the adhesive.

　　Waterproofing Impact Resistant Advantages

　　One advantage to this process of plastic on metal is to provide waterproofing as well as decorative and aesthetically pleasing surfaces on the device. Waterproof thermoplastic surfaces do not rust or corrode and thus are preferred over some metal surfaces which may not be as resistant to these elements. In addition, in order to protect the metal surface and certain electronic components, a watertight seal may be desirable between the thermoplastic material layer and the metal housing of the device.

　　In patent point #36 they further note that "In addition to providing a waterproof or other liquid-proof bond, the strength of the bonds between the materials may provide some degree of impact resistance to the electronic device. The increased bond strength thus results in a sturdier, more durable product.

　　Apple's patent FIG. 2 noted above particularly illustrates the plastic cover surface #130 and the metal body #120 in cross-section, showing a sample seam or joint between the two. Apple further notes in their filing that "The plastic section #130 may be transparent in certain embodiments and may form a cover surface," illustrated as a MacBook cover in FIG. 4. Patent FIG. 3 is an exaggerated view of the FIG.2 where the metal and the plastic meet.

　　Apple's patent application 20170094824 was filed in September 2016. Considering that this is a patent application, the timing of such a product to market is unknown at this time.