Apple Card Found to Contain 90% Titanium and 10% Aluminum

[MacRumors]

Bloomberg Businessweek sent an Apple Card to University of California, Berkeley professor and mineralogist Hans-Rudolf Wenk to determine the card's atomic makeup. The answer: 90% titanium and 10% aluminum.

From the report:

But how much titanium? To find out, a Bloomberg Businessweek reporter sent his card to a mineralogist, University of California, Berkeley professor Hans-Rudolf Wenk. Professor Wenk used what's known as a scanning electron microscope, or SEM device, to determine the card's atomic makeup. He found that the answer is about 90%. The rest of the card is aluminum, according to the analysis.

Apple previously said the card's white finish is achieved through a "multi-layer coating process" that is added to the titanium base material. In a recent support document, Apple said if the card comes into contact with hard surfaces or materials, it is possible that the coating can be damaged.

Apple also said some fabrics, like leather and denim, might cause permanent discoloration on the card that will not wash off.

Article Link: Apple Card Found to Contain 90% Titanium and 10% Aluminum

 

[Sasparilla]

Based on the issue of wear and tear on these cards from casual use we're seeing - guessing we'll see an updated version within a year that is a bit more immune to degradation from normal use.

 

[japanime]

After determining the card's atomic makeup, the professor informed the Bloomberg reporter that he was going on an extended overseas vacation, and that he would return the Apple Card to the reporter "if I come, er, I mean, when I come back."

 

[Solomani]

I wanna be Marisa Robertson.

 

[tito2020]

Bloomberg Businessweek sent an Apple Card to University of California, Berkeley professor and mineralogist Hans-Rudolf Wenk to determine the card's atomic makeup. The answer: 90% titanium and 10% aluminum.

From the report:Apple previously said the card's white finish is achieved through a "multi-layer coating process" that is added to the titanium base material. In a recent support document, Apple said if the card comes into contact with hard surfaces or materials, it is possible that the coating can be damaged.

Apple also said some fabrics, like leather and denim, might cause permanent discoloration on the card that will not wash off.

Article Link: Apple Card Found to Contain 90% Titanium and 10% Aluminum

Now they can pick doors with it

 

[robertcoogan]

Titanium? They couldn't just make it out of something less costly?

 

[ChrisMoBro]

90% titanium, 10% aluminium and 100% lame.

 

[jpn]

sorry i don't have the apple card (yet).
how much does the card weigh in grams?
and next i want to find out the price of titanium.

 

[adamjackson]

I wonder if Apple is tracking "lost card" reports. If I report my card as lost every week for a year, would I have enough titanium to do anything useful with it?

 

[BlueKhufu]

sorry i don't have the apple card (yet).
how much does the card weigh in grams?
and next i want to find out the price of titanium.

Both available via search. 14.75 grams, anywhere from $30-50USD per kg Ti. So less than a dollar per card for the titanium, likely closer to $.50

 

[Marco Klobas]

AlloyGate.

I suggest a Class Action.

In the meantime, protect your investment.

 

[M.PaulCezanne]

Well I hope the activation envelope it came in doesn’t damage it because that’s where mine will remain. Makes no sense to swipe this card for 1%.

 

[Grimace]

Should I wait for the Apple Card 2? How do I future-proof my credit card?

 

[Nuno Lopes]

This kind of “innovation” is actually what gives a bad rep to people that actually like and care for their Apple products.

Innovation would be if they actually went the other way. Instead of producing a card so susceptible to wear and tear, they produced something that was wear and tear proof as much as possible.

Anyway, I almost don’t take cards anyway, soon hopefully will be none.

Just my too cents.

 

[hubieonekanubie]

It’s most likely 6AL4V titanium alloy. Commercially pure titanium is soft and would bend very easily. Almost all things that are said to be titanium are titanium alloys with other things mixed in. There was probably vanadium in there as well.

 

[TonyC28]

Wonder if Jony Ive insisted on throwing some aluminium in there

 

[GeoStructural]

Based on the issue of wear and tear on these cards from casual use we're seeing - guessing we'll see an updated version within a year that is a bit more immune to degradation from normal use.

How should we call it? “Cardgate”, “weargate”?

 

[MacOH21]

In other news, water is wet.

 

[Jarman74]

Bloomberg Businessweek sent an Apple Card to University of California, Berkeley professor and mineralogist Hans-Rudolf Wenk to determine the card's atomic makeup.

As the iFixit guys are taking their sweet time with their long-anticipated AC teardown, this will have to suffice for now.

 

[Crowbot]

Titanium? They couldn't just make it out of something less costly?

The metal is only worth about $0.10.

 

[NightFox]

I see there's already a market for a $139 wooden holder to protect the cards. To re-iterate, that's a $139 crafted wooden case that'll easily pick up scratches, dents and marks, to protect your free, robust metal card.

Anyone want to buy a $199 titanium/aluminium case to protect their wooden holder? Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

 

[chris975d]

It’s most likely 6AL4V titanium alloy. Commercially pure titanium is soft and would bend very easily. Almost all things that are said to be titanium are titanium alloys with other things mixed in. There was probably vanadium in there as well.

This. As someone in an industry that revolves around titanium, "common" titanium contains aluminum and vanadium. 6al4v as you referred to. Almost anything made of "titanium" has this makeup. 6% up to sometimes 10% aluminum. This is not news at all.

 

[hetrigger]

OMG!!! Bait and switch!!! I refuse to use my card until they make them 100% Titanium.

Who cares.

 

[Robert.Walter]

I’m surprised folks aren’t stripping off the paint, and putting different surface treatments on the metal.

There’s lots that can be done with color, machine turning, buffing, etc.

Both the chip and mag strip could be masked to protect their functionality.

 

[alpi123]

AlloyGate.

I suggest a Class Action.

In the meantime, protect your investment.

$139 what the ****