Yale Researcher Develops Manufacturing Process For The Ultimate Cellphone Case Material
@chaitanya-kukde-yk3G31
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Oct 23, 2024
Oct 23, 2024
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Cellphone droppers, rejoice! The technology that makes cell phone cases compatible with Chuck Norris may be here. A Yale researcher has developed a technology for manufacturing a highly durable and strong material which is thin, light in weight and can be easily shaped as plastic. Jan Schroers is the name of this researcher and he is a professor of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science at Yale University. With the help of a manufacturing partner, Schroers plans commercialisation of the product by 2015.
A newly developed generation of materials called Bulk Metallic Glasses (BMGs), which is strong yet light is the main ingredient of the recipe. Electronic casings were identified to be a desirable application but a viable technique for shaping this material was not found yet. For about a decade, Schroers studied a fundamentally different approach for the shaping process of BMG. Instead of heating the material to a high temperature and then moulding it into sheets, Schroers' process (called 'Thermoplastic Forming') supercools the material into a liquid state in which the BMG softens sufficiently to allow for shaping. The BMG was then rolled into sheets by the end of this process. This process has proven to be fast, precise, and economical as compared to the other ones. The BMG sheets were then blow moulded into desired by Schroers' team.
The resulting material is 50 times harder than plastic, 10 times harder than aluminium and about 3 times harder than steel. Also, the material is very much elastic which facilitates a thin-layered triggering mechanism under the case. This will eliminate any need for round holes in the case and thus liquid seepage in the phone can be prevented. With OEMs trying to make gadgets durable and waterproof, Schroers' research represents a major breakthrough in the BMG manufacturing technology which could take care of our fragile electronic gadgets more efficiently.
Fun Fact: There exists an annual event called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone_throwing#World_and_national_championships" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Mobile Phone Throwing World And National Championships</a>. If this case does become public, this competition could see a massive surge in the number of participants.
Source: <a href="https://news.yale.edu/2014/09/04/yale-professor-makes-case-supercool-metals" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Yale professor makes the case for Supercool Metals | YaleNews</a>
A newly developed generation of materials called Bulk Metallic Glasses (BMGs), which is strong yet light is the main ingredient of the recipe. Electronic casings were identified to be a desirable application but a viable technique for shaping this material was not found yet. For about a decade, Schroers studied a fundamentally different approach for the shaping process of BMG. Instead of heating the material to a high temperature and then moulding it into sheets, Schroers' process (called 'Thermoplastic Forming') supercools the material into a liquid state in which the BMG softens sufficiently to allow for shaping. The BMG was then rolled into sheets by the end of this process. This process has proven to be fast, precise, and economical as compared to the other ones. The BMG sheets were then blow moulded into desired by Schroers' team.
Fun Fact: There exists an annual event called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone_throwing#World_and_national_championships" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Mobile Phone Throwing World And National Championships</a>. If this case does become public, this competition could see a massive surge in the number of participants.
Source: <a href="https://news.yale.edu/2014/09/04/yale-professor-makes-case-supercool-metals" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Yale professor makes the case for Supercool Metals | YaleNews</a>