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Macbook Air aluminium is chipping

E

Executer

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 14, 2014
14
0
Hello guys,

I bought a Macbook Air from the Apple Store back in July. Today I noticed that the place where I usually rest my hand has suffered some damage (http://i.imgur.com/TQUr7dO.jpg - it looks a lot worse in the pic than it is irl).

I've read in several forums (including this one) that this might be caused by a special reaction that takes place between my sweat and the computers' aluminium. Not sure if this is the case, but the truth is that it doesn't look pretty and in some occasions it actually hurts my skin.

That said, I do have a few questions to ask, if you don't mind.

1. Do you believe this might be covered by warranty?
2. If yes, I could take it to an Apple Store. The problem is I really need my computer for the next five months and I don't have a replacement. Do you know if there's anything I can do to solve this problem (other than taking it to a store, that it)?
3. At least I hope it doesn't get any worse. Would cleaning the case more often help avoiding this situation?

Thanks for your help! All the best.
 
Unless someone out there has had a similar experience recently, I don't think any of us can predict how AppleCare will react to this situation. It does seem chemical-reaction-ish, or else I've seen nicks of this sort come from watchbands and similar jewelry impacting the alumnium. Or it's possible that there was a metallurgy or processing error that resulted in a compromised surface matrix on the anodize.

There's nothing to do but make an appointment at a Genius Bar, if you can, and express polite concern that your lovely Air has developed a complexion issue.

As to cleaning the case, Apple recommends nothing more than a gentle wiping with a lightly dampened, clean, soft cloth. (I am a smudge freak and give my machine a good gentle/damp wiping every couple of days.) Do not use cleaners, ammonia, polishes, etc.
 
Thanks. I was hoping to find someone who'd have faced the same issue.

I don't use any jewelry at all, so I'm pretty sure that's not the case here. It seems pretty insignificant at the moment (I had a few people trying to figure out what was wrong and no one managed to notice the "scratches"), but that's the only thing I see when I look at my Macbook. :D
 
Executer said:
Thanks. I was hoping to find someone who'd have faced the same issue.

I don't use any jewelry at all, so I'm pretty sure that's not the case here. It seems pretty insignificant at the moment (I had a few people trying to figure out what was wrong and no one managed to notice the "scratches"), but that's the only thing I see when I look at my Macbook. :D
Click to expand...

Pure aluminum metal (and its alloy) is quite reactive when directly exposed to oxygen. Therefore, the case have a proprietary coating to protect the sensitive metal from oxygen. You just rubbed off that layer and now Aluminum (and its alloys) reacted to oxygen to form oxides which are mostly black in color (not all oxides are black in color of course).
 
I'm not going to dive into search, but I remember a similar thread here or in the MBP forum a month or two back. The following is a serious question, not a joke or a jibe: do you have a relatively high salt diet?
 
Thank you all for your answers.

cbautis2 said:
Pure aluminum metal (and its alloy) is quite reactive when directly exposed to oxygen. Therefore, the case have a proprietary coating to protect the sensitive metal from oxygen. You just rubbed off that layer and now Aluminum (and its alloys) reacted to oxygen to form oxides which are mostly black in color (not all oxides are black in color of course).
Click to expand...

Interesting. I know a bit about redox reactions. I also read that the aluminium is anodised. I just expected it to last more than a few months.

newellj said:
I'm not going to dive into search, but I remember a similar thread here or in the MBP forum a month or two back. The following is a serious question, not a joke or a jibe: do you have a relatively high salt diet?
Click to expand...

Well, I don't think so. I don't like my food too salty - just a little bit as food seasoning.
 
Executer said:
Thank you all for your answers.



Interesting. I know a bit about redox reactions. I also read that the aluminium is anodised. I just expected it to last more than a few months.


From the looks of it, the black layer may have been the aluminum alloyed oxide from the anodising process. Then that oxide layer is painted/dyed to produce the silver color finish. Wish Apple could've done a more resilient coating though, but I believe it depends on the batches since I haven't worn off the coating in my 2011 MBA.
Click to expand...
 
You should see my brother's MacBook Pro - the whole front-right edge had the same thing happen to it, but a lot, lot worse. I think it may be to do with the pH of your sweat, but I'm not 100% sure.

It also occurs on the left edge of the laptop where he rests his left hand. It's definitely some sort of reaction, the computer has barely been taken off the desk so it's not damage from anything else.

I think solutions are to wash your hands with soap every hour or so or use some kind of case and palm-rest guard.

He borrowed my laptop for a bit and there is some slight damage to the edge, similar to yours in the picture but maybe not as bad. Safe to say I haven't let him use it since... :p
 
My 2006 MBP has the same problem, and much worse than what you show in your picture. The entire area below the left side of the keyboard is blackish.

I even had the top case replaced due to another problem, and the black spots appeared in the new case also.
 
I have this on my MBP, I asked Apple and they told me it would happen with a new top housing. Something to do with the chemicals released by your skin.
 
Aluminum oxide is attacked by salt and mercury; not even Apple can defy the laws of Physics (some say chemistry is a branch of quantum physics)
 
shiekh said:
Aluminum oxide is attacked by salt and mercury; not even Apple can defy the laws of Physics (some say chemistry is a branch of quantum physics)
Click to expand...

Molecules and chemicals and whatnot are physical things, so chemistry is definitely a branch (or subset, anyway) of physics.
 
motrek said:
Molecules and chemicals and whatnot are physical things, so chemistry is definitely a branch (or subset, anyway) of physics.
Click to expand...

Well, true. That's why there's a class called Physical Chemistry which is basically chemistry explained through statistical thermodynamics and quantum mechanics. Hard core chem phds love talking about those stuff :)
 
Executer said:
Thank you all for your answers.



Interesting. I know a bit about redox reactions. I also read that the aluminium is anodised. I just expected it to last more than a few months.



Well, I don't think so. I don't like my food too salty - just a little bit as food seasoning.
Click to expand...

This is not judgement on you or your diet OP but lots of foods that we buy today have large amounts of salt in them either as flavouring or for preservation so it's possible that your intake is higher than you imagine.

However, it's also entirely possible that your sweat composition is more corrosive for other reasons. :)
 
shiekh said:
Aluminum oxide is attacked by salt and mercury; not even Apple can defy the laws of Physics (some say chemistry is a branch of quantum physics)
Click to expand...
Exactly. At least, not after Jobs died.
SMALL-Apple-CEO-Steve-Jobs-Holy-Photoshop-with-iPad-Jesus-Tablet.jpg
 
cambookpro said:
You should see my brother's MacBook Pro - the whole front-right edge had the same thing happen to it, but a lot, lot worse. I think it may be to do with the pH of your sweat, but I'm not 100% sure.

It also occurs on the left edge of the laptop where he rests his left hand. It's definitely some sort of reaction, the computer has barely been taken off the desk so it's not damage from anything else.

I think solutions are to wash your hands with soap every hour or so or use some kind of case and palm-rest guard.

He borrowed my laptop for a bit and there is some slight damage to the edge, similar to yours in the picture but maybe not as bad. Safe to say I haven't let him use it since... :p
Click to expand...

I agree and it has more to do with the PH than salt but salt is likely part of the problem too. If your laptop is that "young" Apple might just help you out. Worth taking it in a seeing what they will do.
 
Newtons Apple said:
I agree and it has more to do with the PH than salt but salt is likely part of the problem too. If your laptop is that "young" Apple might just help you out. Worth taking it in a seeing what they will do.
Click to expand...

pH will surely react with the coating, exposing the black anodized aluminum considering low pH can dissolve metals (even pure 24 karat gold for that matter (just make aqua regia)) :eek:
 
Al forms an oxide which protects from further oxidation (passivation). It is kind of white colour (so not black).

cbautis2 said:
Pure aluminum metal (and its alloy) is quite reactive when directly exposed to oxygen. Therefore, the case have a proprietary coating to protect the sensitive metal from oxygen. You just rubbed off that layer and now Aluminum (and its alloys) reacted to oxygen to form oxides which are mostly black in color (not all oxides are black in color of course).
Click to expand...
 
artivideo.nl said:
Al forms an oxide which protects from further oxidation (passivation). It is kind of white colour (so not black).
Click to expand...

Sorry about that, I was just under impression that many oxides are blackish in color e.g. nickel iii oxide or copper ii oxide. I work in the electroplating company BTW and we do get oxidation rejections after plating and they look black or very dark
 
First time not buying AppleCare for my new MBA! Went with (2) year coverage from BestBuy & Geek Squad @$309 OTD after AppleCare+ on my iPhones and iPads was used up both maximum of (2) returns or trade-outs for refurbished or new replacements. After that I wasn't covered for damage...:eek:
 
Newtons Apple said:
I agree and it has more to do with the PH than salt but salt is likely part of the problem too. If your laptop is that "young" Apple might just help you out. Worth taking it in a seeing what they will do.
Click to expand...

Here's my brother's laptop:

r8UTEzv.jpg


It's four years old so Apple probably won't do anything. He's fine with it, but every time I see it I wince...
 
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