Electronic devices include a housing. A housing of an electronic device may refer to a structural component that encloses an interior of the electronic device. The housing of the electronic device may be subjected to mechanical forces over an operational lifetime of an electronic device. Additionally, electronic devices include electrical components such a memory, processor, etc., that generate heat during operation of the electronic device.
During an operational lifetime an electronic device may be subjected to environmental conditions such as liquids (e.g., liquids spilled on a surface of the electronic device) that may cause the electronic device to experience temporary and/or permanent damage. Additionally, operation of an electronic device below a designed threshold operating temperature may be desirable to ensure intended performance of the electronic device and/or avoid thermal degradation of components of the electronic device. Further, a housing of an electronic device may be subjected to mechanical deformation so the housing may desirably provide a sufficient amount of mechanical strength to withstand such deformation.
Examples of the disclosure include metal fluoropolymer composites, electronic devices including metal fluoropolymer composites, and methods of manufacture of metal fluoropolymer composites. For example, a metal fluoropolymer composite can include a metal substrate including an opening in a face of the metal substrate, a porous fluoropolymer layer disposed on the face of the metal substrate and overlaying the opening, and a fabric layer disposed on the porous fluoropolymer layer, where the metal fluoropolymer composite is permeable to air but impermeable to liquid water. Notably, in some examples, at least a portion of a housing of an electronic device can be formed of a metal fluoropolymer composite to promote flow of the air through the metal fluoropolymer composite and cool the electronic device while being impermeable to liquid water, as described herein.
A housing of a device refers to a structural component that encloses at least a portion of an interior of the electronic device. For example, the metal fluoropolymer composite can form at least a portion of a back cover, a front cover, a side cover, and the like, of an electronic device, as described herein with greater detail with respect to
As used herein, an electronic device refers to a device including an electrical circuit. The electronic device can be a consumer electronic device and/or a mobile electronic device. Example of electronic devices include laptop computers, desktop computers, tablets, mobile phones, keyboards, and/or wearable electronic devices (e.g., a watch and/or a heart rate band), among other types of electronic devices.
The metal substrate 104 can be formed of a metal and/or a metal alloy such as steel, titanium, lithium, aluminum, magnesium, or combinations thereof, among other possibilities. A thickness 126 of the metal substrate 104 can be varied. For example, the thickness 126 of the metal substrate 104 can be varied depending upon a desired application and/or desired amount of mechanical strength of the metal fluoropolymer composite 100. In some examples, the thickness 126 of the metal substrate 104 can be from 0.5 millimeters to 5 millimeters. All individual values and subranges from 0.5 millimeters to 5 millimeters are included.
As illustrated in
In some examples, the opening 106 can have a diameter 107 from 5.0 millimeters to 0.01 millimeters. All individual values and subranges from 5.0 millimeters to 0.01 millimeters are included; for example, the diameter 107 can be from a lower limit of 0.01 millimeters or 0.1 millimeters, to an upper limit of 1.0 millimeters or 5.0 millimeters.
A shape, size, total number, position and/or relative position (e.g., relative to heat producing components and/or to other openings), etc. of the opening 106 can be varied. For example, while
The porous fluoropolymer layer 110 can include and/or be formed of a fluoropolymer such as a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), or combinations thereof. For instance, in some examples, the porous fluoropolymer layer 110 can be formed of ePTFE. In some examples, the porous fluoropolymer layer 110 can be formed of PTFE.
The porous fluoropolymer layer 110 includes pores (not shown for ease of illustration). The pores of the porous fluoropolymer layer 110 can have an average pore size of from 0.5 microns to 5 microns. All individual values and subranges from 0.5 microns to 5 microns are included; for example, the average pore size can be from a lower limit of 0.5 microns or 1 micron, to an upper limit of 2 microns or 5 microns. It is noted, a liquid water drop cannot pass the pores of the porous fluoropolymer layer 110, while vapor particles (e.g., water vapor, etc.) can pass the pores of the porous fluoropolymer layer 110.
The porous fluoropolymer layer 110 can have a level of porosity of from 80% to 99%. All individual values and subranges from 99% to 80% are included. In some examples, the porous fluoropolymer layer 110 can have a level of porosity of at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, and/or 99% or higher. Depending on the context, such porosity % can refer to a volume % of the porous fluoropolymer layer 110.
The porous fluoropolymer layer 110 can have a density of from 2.2 grams/centimeter3 to 0.1 grams/centimeter3. All individual values and subranges from 2.2 grams/centimeter3 to 0.1 grams/centimeter3 are included. In some examples, the porous fluoropolymer layer 110 can have of a density of less than or equal to 2.2 grams/centimeter3, 0.5 grams/centimeter3. 0.4 grams/centimeter3, 0.3 grams/centimeter, or 0.1 grams/centimeter3.
The porous fluoropolymer layer 110 can have a thickness 125 of from 2 millimeters to 0.005 millimeters. All individual values and subranges from 2 millimeters to 0.005 millimeters are included; for example, the thickness 125 can be from a lower limit of 0.005 millimeters, 0.1 millimeters or 0.5 millimeters, to an upper limit of 2 millimeters or 1 millimeter.
As mentioned, the porous fluoropolymer layer 110 is permeable to gases including air and water vapor, but impermeable to liquids such as liquid water. The porous fluoropolymer layer 110 can exhibit liquid impermeability (e.g., repellency) at, for example, a surface thereof, and possess a high contact angle with liquid water. The liquid repellency of the porous fluoropolymer layer 110 may be at least in part be attributed to a size of the pores which allow passage of a gas but not liquid through the metal fluoropolymer composite 100. Depending on the context, the term “size” of an object herein can refer to diameter, length, width, etc., thereof. For example, porous fluoropolymer layer 110 can comprise 1 billion to 15 billion micro-pores per square inch.
The liquid impermeability of the porous fluoropolymer layer 110 can be reflected in the contact angle of the porous fluoropolymer layer 110 with a liquid droplet. For the example, a contact angle with liquid water can be at least 90°, 95°, 100°, 105°, 110°, 115°, 120°, 125°, 130° or higher. All individual values and subranges from 90° to 130° (or higher) are included. For instance, a contact angle with liquid water can be 118°, among other possibilities. The liquid impermeability and repellence, as evidenced in the contact angle, can make the porous fluoropolymer layer 110 (and thus the metal fluoropolymer composite 100) unlikely to be wetted by general liquids and/or unlikely to adhere to other materials. The impermeability of the porous fluoropolymer layer 110 with respect to a liquid (e.g., water) can be captured by, for example, less than or equal to 20 volume % of a liquid (e.g., liquid water) being able to pass through the thickness 125 of the porous fluoropolymer layer 110. In some examples, less than or equal to 15 volume %, 10 volume %, 5 volume %, 1 volume %, and/or less than 0.5 volume % can pass through the porous fluoropolymer layer 110.
An air and/or gas permeability of the porous fluoropolymer layer 110 can be reflected in the Frazier number of the porous fluoropolymer layer 110. As used herein, a Frazier number can be calculated in accordance with ASTM D737 (Standard Test Method for Air Permeability of Textile Fabrics). For example, the porous fluoropolymer layer 110 can have a Frazier number of from 0.1 to 500. All individual values and subranges from 0.1 to 500 are included. For instance, in some examples, the porous fluoropolymer layer 110 can have a Frazier number of from 0.2 to 450, from 0.5 to 400, from 0.8 to 350, from 1 to 300, from 5 to 250, from 10 to 200, from 20 to 150, from 40 to 100, from 60 to 80, from 100 to 300, from 150 to 250, from 0.5 to 15, from 0.6 to 10, from 0.8 to 8, from 0.9 to 5, from 1 to 4, from 0.8 to 8, from 0.9 to 5, and/or from 1 to 4, among other possibilities.
As illustrated in
The fluoropolymer in the porous fluoropolymer layer 110 can be in the form of microfibers. In various examples, an internal network structure formed with microfibers of PTFE and/or ePTFE that are heat resistant and surface lubricative, and accordingly allows the dust absorbed at its surface to be readily removed.
As illustrated in
The fabric layer 112 can include and/or be formed of fibers. The fibers can include ceramic fibers, metal fiber, metal alloy fibers, and/or polymer fibers, among other possibilities. The fibers can be formed of an inorganic material, an organic material, or combinations thereof. The fibers can be formed of a natural material, a synthetic material, or combinations thereof.
In some examples, the fibers can include carbon fibers, glass fibers, aramid fibers, and/or titanium fibers. For example, the fibers can include carbon nanotubes and/or carbon fibers. The carbon fibers can include natural carbon fibers and/or synthetic carbon fibers. For example, the carbon fibers can be formed of polyacrylonitrile (“PAN”), rayon, pitch, and/or aramid carbon fibers.
As mentioned, in some examples, the fibers can include comprise glass fibers. The glass fibers can include a ceramic, such as an oxide, a metal oxide, a silicate, a nitride, etc.
In some examples, the fibers can include polymeric fibers such as synthetic fibers. For example, the fibers can include an aramid fiber. An aramid fiber can refer to a fiber made as a result of a reaction between an amine-containing material and a carboxylic acid halide containing material, among other possibilities.
In some examples, the fibers can include metal fibers. The metal of the metal fibers can be a pure metal, a metal alloy, or combinations thereof. The metal can, for example, include a noble metal, a transition metal, or both. In some examples, the metal can include titanium.
The fibers can include continuous fibers. The fibers can include discontinuous fibers. The dimensions of the fibers can be varied. In some examples, the fibers can have an average diameter of between 5 μm and 10 μm. However, the disclosure is not so limited. Rather, larger or smaller diameters of fibers are also possible. In some examples, the fibers can a PC-ABS, nylon, polyethylene (“PE”), and/or polypropylene (“PP”).
The fibers in the fabric layer 112 can be arranged in various orientations and/or directions. For example, the fibers can be aligned unidirectionally. The fabric layer 112 having the unidirectional aligned fibers can exhibit isotropic material properties. The direction can be any suitable direction, depending on the application. For example, this direction can be parallel to the larger dimension in a plane as defined by the length and width of the metal fluoropolymer composite 100, or it can be perpendicular to this dimension. The fabric layer 112 can exhibit stronger mechanical properties (e.g., elastic modulus, flexural modulus, etc.) along the unidirectional aligned direction than orthogonal thereto. As used herein, unidirectional aligned fibers refer to the fabric layer 112 having at least 80 volume % of the fibers aligned in a particular direction.
The fibers can be woven fibers. The woven fibers can be in various possible formats including plain, twill, satin, triaxial, stitched, basket, continuous strand mat, and/or veil formats.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As mentioned, the openings can have a diameter 107 from 5.0 millimeters to 0.01 millimeters. The openings can have the same or similar diameters 207, 209 (as illustrated in
The fabric layer 212 can be disposed on the porous fluoropolymer layer 210, as illustrated in
In some example, the porous fluoropolymer layer 210, the fabric layer 212, and/or the finish layer 214 can be laminated with or otherwise coated with other materials such as a hydrophobic and/or a oleophobic material, among other possibilities.
Each of the layers of the metal fluoropolymer composite 230 described herein has a suitable thickness to promote aspects of metal fluoropolymer composites. For example, the layers have the same thickness or different thickness. In some examples, the porous fluoropolymer layer 210 can have a thickness 225 that is greater than a thickness 224 of the fabric layer 212 and/or greater than a thickness 223 of the finish layer 214, among other possibilities.
The metal fluoropolymer composite 230 can have a thickness equal to the sum of the respective thicknesses (e.g., thicknesses 223, 224, 225, and/or 226) of the layers included in the metal fluoropolymer composite 230. In various examples, the metal fluoropolymer composite 230 can have a thickness of from 20 millimeters to 0.5 millimeters. All individual values and subranges from 20 millimeters to 0.5 millimeters are included.
The plurality of openings 306-H, notably and as illustrated in
The metal fluoropolymer composite 342 of the electronic device 340 can permit dissipation of heat (via air flow) from and/or to the inside of the electronic device 340 via the openings 306-H while being impermeable to liquid (from entering the interior of the electronic device 340). Desirably, an electronic device 340 including the metal fluoropolymer composite 342 can have an internal air temperature during operation of below 90° C., 80° C., 70° C., 60° C., 50° C., 40° C., and/or 30° C., among other possibilities. In addition, the metal fluoropolymer composite 342 can have desirably mechanical properties due at least in part to the presence of the metal substrate in the metal fluoropolymer composite 342.
The housing 341 (or at least a portion thereof) is external to the electrical circuit 343. That is, the electrical circuit 343 is disposed in an interior of the electronic device 340 that is defined at least in part by the housing 341. The electrical circuit 343 can be various types of electrical circuits having a suitable configuration and/or component to facilitate operation of the electronic device 340. It is noted that while
In various examples, at least some of the plurality of openings 306-H can pass through the bottom cover and/or a top cover so as to be positioned adjacent to a heat producing component of the electronic device 340. For instance, the metal fluoropolymer composite 342 can form at least a bottom cover of the electronic device 340 (e.g., a bottom side of a laptop that is to contact an object such as a desk or an end-user of the laptop during operation of the laptop), as illustrated in
As used herein, the openings 306-H be adjacent to a heat producing component (e.g., adjacent to the electrical circuit 343) refers to the openings 306-H being in substantially the same vertical plane (e.g., a plane orthogonal to and extending through each of a metal substrate and a porous fluoropolymer layer of a bottom cover of the electronic device 340) as the heat producing component. For instance, as illustrated in
As illustrated at 484, the method 480 can include providing a metal substrate including an opening in a face of the metal substrate. Providing can include manufacture of and/or otherwise procuring the metal substrate. For example, the metal substrate can be die cast, precision milled (e.g., computer numerical controlled milling), and/or otherwise procured.
The method 480 can included coupling the laminate to the face of the metal substrate to overlay the opening and form a metal fluoropolymer composite that is permeable to air but impermeable to liquid water, as shown at 486. In some examples, coupling the laminate to the face of the metal substrate can include applying an adhesive layer to the face of the metal substrate and positioning the laminate at least partially in the adhesive layer. That is, in some examples, metal fluoropolymer composites can include an adhesive layer disposed on the face of the metal substrate (at locations other than the holes in the metal substrate) to couple the porous fluoropolymer layer to a face of the metal substrate. In various examples, the laminate (including the fabric layer and the porous fluoropolymer layer) is non-removably coupled to the metal substrate to form the metal fluoropolymer composite.
In some examples, the method 480 can include applying a hydrophobic and/or an oleophobic material to the laminate, the porous fluoropolymer layer, the fabric layer, and/or a finish layer through various manners of applications such as lamination, spray coating, dip coating, among other possible manners of application of the hydrophobic and/or an oleophobic material.
It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on,” “connected to”, “coupled to”, or “coupled with” another element, it can be directly on, connected, or coupled with the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an object is “directly coupled to” or “directly coupled with” another element it is understood that are no intervening elements (adhesives, screws, other elements) etc.
In the foregoing detailed description of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration how examples of the disclosure may be practiced. These examples are described in sufficient detail to enable those in the art to practice the examples of this disclosure, and it is to be understood that other examples (e.g., having different thickness) may be utilized and that process, electrical, and/or structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
The figures herein follow a numbering convention in which the first digit corresponds to the drawing figure number and the remaining digits identify an element or component in the drawing. For example, reference numeral 104 may refer to element 104 in
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2016/041346 | 7/7/2016 | WO | 00 |