Yttria-sensitized zirconia

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10624217-B2
Application number	US-201916535810-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 8, 2019
Priority date	Sep 21, 2016
Publication date	Apr 14, 2020
Grant date	Apr 14, 2020

Abstract

A housing for a portable electronic device is disclosed. The housing is composed of yttria-sensitized zirconia. Yttria-sensitized zirconia has from about 1.5 to about 2.5 mole percent yttria, and more typically about 2 mole percent yttria, and most typically 2 mole percent yttria, in zirconia. Yttria-sensitized zirconia is both tough and able to limit the formation and propagation of micro-cracks. Methods for manufacturing yttria-sensitized zirconia composed housings are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A housing for an electronic device, comprising:
zirconia and from 1.5 mole percent to 2.5 mole percent yttria;
a first portion containing a first amount of monoclinic crystals defining a first surface having a first surface roughness; and
a second portion containing a second amount of monoclinic crystals that exceeds the first amount defining a second surface having a second surface roughness greater than the first surface roughness.

2. The housing of claim 1 , wherein the first surface comprises an exterior surface of the electronic device.

3. The housing of claim 2 , wherein the first surface comprises a polished surface.

4. The housing of claim 1 , wherein the second surface comprises an interior surface of the electronic device.

5. The housing of claim 4 , wherein the second surface comprises a roughened surface.

6. The housing of claim 5 , wherein the second surface comprises a media blasted surface.

7. The housing of claim 1 , wherein the second surface roughness is from 0.05 μm to 0.4 μm.

8. The housing of claim 7 , wherein the second surface roughness is from 0.08 μm to 0.35 μm.

9. The housing of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the housing connecting the first portion to the second portion comprises tetragonal zirconia crystals.

10. The housing of claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion comprise monoclinic and tetragonal zirconia crystals.

11. The housing of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises 2 mole percent yttria.

12. The housing of claim 1 , wherein the housing is composed of zirconia and from 1.5 mole percent to 2.5 mole percent yttria.

13. The housing of claim 1 , wherein the second portion comprises a curved or contoured shape.

14. The housing of claim 1 , wherein the housing at least partially defines an enclosed volume including at least one electronic component.

15. The housing of claim 14 , further comprising a display coupled to the housing.

16. A housing for an electronic device, comprising:
a body comprising yttria-sensitized zirconia and defining a first surface and a second surface;
the portion of the body defining the first surface containing a higher percentage of monoclinic zirconia crystals than the portion of the body defining the second surface.

17. The housing of claim 16 , wherein the yttria-sensitized zirconia comprises zirconia and from 1.5 mole percent to 2.5 mole percent yttria.

18. The housing of claim 16 , wherein the first surface at least partially defines an exterior surface of the electronic device and the second surface at least partially defines an enclosed volume.

19. The housing of claim 18 , wherein a distance between the first surface and the second surface is less than 10 mm.

20. The housing of claim 16 , wherein the portion of the body defining the second surface comprises a corner or an edge.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Matsuyuki Naoto
• Memering Dale N
• Waniuk Theodore A
• Takagi Kazuya
• Ely Colin M

Classifications

• H04M1/18

  Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment (H04M1/19 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B24C1/06

  for producing matt surfaces, e.g. on plastic materials, on glass · CPC title

• C04B2235/3225

  Yttrium oxide or oxide-forming salts thereof · CPC title

• C04B41/53

  involving the removal of at least part of the materials of the treated article, {e.g. etching, drying of hardened concrete (C04B41/0036 - C04B41/0054 take precedence)} · CPC title

• H04M1/0283

  for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate · CPC title