Industry analysts speculate that Liquidmetal fabrication it is years – and billions of dollars of investment – away. But now comes word of a patent recently awarded to Crucible Intellectual Property for the method of generating large quantities of Liquidmetal. And guess who owns the exclusive license for the development and sale of the materials? Our friends in Cupertino.
Theoretically, Liquidmetal would be the basis for future iOS devices like the iPhone and iPad.
Liquidmetal is a group of alloys that have an atomic structure more similar to glass, with an amorphous quality. The alloy has strength, is corrosion resistant, and can molded into very complex shapes..
The tech site electronista reported this:
Patent number 8,485,245 B1 for a “Bulk amorphous alloy sheet forming process” was awarded on July 16. From the patent filing, Liquidmetal “can be valuable in the fabrication of electronic devices.” Specifically, the patent names iPhones, “portable web-browser (e.g. iPad),” computer monitors, and portable music players as likely targets for the material. The filing also mentions that it could be used in a “watch or a clock,” suggesting that Apple may be thinking of using the material in a future “smartwatch” device it has been rumored to be working on.
A device made of Liquidmetal would be virtually indestructible.