Cosmetic anodic oxide coatings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017044684-A1
Application number	US-201615339813-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 31, 2016
Priority date	Sep 27, 2013
Publication date	Feb 16, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

The embodiments described herein relate to anodizing and anodized films. The methods described can be used to form opaque and white anodized films on a substrate. In some embodiments, the methods involve forming anodized films having branched pore structures. The branched pore structure provides a light scattering medium for incident visible light, imparting an opaque and white appearance to the anodized film. In some embodiments, the methods involve infusing metal complex ions within pores of an anodized. Once within the pores, the metal complex ions undergo a chemical change forming metal oxide particles. The metal oxide particles provide a light scattering medium for incident visible light, imparting an opaque and white appearance to the anodized film. In some embodiments, aspects of the methods for creating irregular or branched pores and methods for infusing metal complex ions within pores are combined.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A metal part, comprising:
a protective film disposed over a metal surface of the metal part, the protective film comprising:
an anodic film having a top surface corresponding to a top surface of the part, the anodic film comprising pores having top ends adjacent to the top surface and bottom ends adjacent to the metal surface, wherein at least a portion of the pores have metal oxide particles infused therein, wherein the metal oxide particles provide a light scattering medium for diffusely reflecting visible wavelengths of light incident on the top surface and imparting a white appearance to the anodic film.

2 . The metal part of claim 1 , wherein the metal oxide particles are characterized as having a size that entraps the metal oxide particles in the pores.

3 . The metal part of claim 1 , wherein the metal oxide particles reside within the pores.

4 . The metal part of claim 1 , wherein the metal oxide particles reside within the bottoms ends of the pores.

5 . The metal part of claim 1 , wherein the metal oxide particles are composed of a titanium oxide compound.

6 . The metal part of claim 1 , wherein the top ends of the pores are sealed. The metal part of claim 1 , wherein the metal surface is composed of an aluminum alloy.

8 . The metal part of claim 1 , wherein the pores have diameters wider than 20 nanometers.

9 . The metal part of claim 1 , wherein the anodic film has a thickness ranging between about 5 micrometers and about 30 micrometers.

10 . The metal part of claim 1 , wherein the metal part corresponds to an enclosure for an electronic device.

11 . An enclosure for an electronic device, the enclosure comprising:
a metal substrate having an anodic film, the anodic film including anodic pores with metal oxide particles positioned therein, wherein the metal oxide particles impart a white appearance to the anodic film.

12 . The enclosure of claim 11 , wherein the metal oxide particles are composed of a titanium oxide compound.

13 . The enclosure of claim 11 , wherein the metal oxide particles reside within terminuses of the anodic pores.

14 . The enclosure of claim 11 , wherein the anodic film corresponds to an external protective coating of the enclosure.

15 . An electronic device comprising:
an enclosure having a protective coating that includes an anodic film, the anodic film including anodic pores having metal oxide particles composed of a titanium oxide compound positioned within terminuses of the anodic pores.

16 . The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the enclosure is composed of an aluminum alloy.

17 . The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein top ends of the anodic pores are sealed.

18 . The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the anodic pores have diameters wider than 20 nanometers.

19 . The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the anodic film has a thickness ranging between about 5 micrometers and about 30 micrometers.

20 . The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the anodic film has a barrier layer having an exterior surface corresponding to an exterior surface of the enclosure, the barrier layer having branched structures arranged in a branching pattern.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Tatebe Masashige
• Akana Jody R
• Oshima Takahiro
• Russell-Clarke Peter N
• Hongou Ayumi
• Hara Kenji

Classifications

• C25D11/08

  containing inorganic acids · CPC title

• C25D11/22 Primary

  for colouring layers · CPC title

• C25D11/246

  for sealing layers · CPC title

• C25D11/045

  for forming AAO templates · CPC title

• C25D11/18

  After-treatment, e.g. pore-sealing · CPC title