The constant search for a competitive edge in the technology industry led Samsung to develop and trademark Metal 12, a new magnesium-aluminum alloy.
Samsung derived the name from the fact that magnesium is the 12th element in the periodic table– they didn’t invent a new material.
With a trademark on the material filed with the European Union Intellectual Property Office,
Already used as the main material in Samsung’s Notebook 9 (2018) laptop, the new material will almost definitely be incorporated into the Galaxy S9/S9+ and Galaxy Wear devices, according to Phone Arena. It’s not guaranteed but a sure possibility.
Will Samsung’s 2018 flagships have magnesium chassis?
“It’s too early to tell,” according to Boy Genius Report. There are other considerations that come into play:
“What’s important to remember is that both phones will retain their glass sandwich design so that wireless charging can work. That means the phones will have a metal chassis in the middle, but glass will still cover both the front and back.”
We will see. Samsung unveils the Galaxy S9 in late February, and the phone should hit stores in March.
Magnesium: Metal of the Future
“Aluminum has been the go-to metal of choice with smartphones for a while now, so the potential of magnesium entering the market is rather exciting,” according to Android Central. The durability of titanium has also proven to be in demand, and a product that’s both lighter than aluminum and stronger than titanium is remarkable.
Phone Arena offered perspective on the significance of magnesium:
“Although the difference in such overall-light devices like smartphones wouldn’t be that much glaring, magnesium is lighter than aluminum and stronger per unit volume at the same time. These two extraordinary properties… have dubbed it “the metal of the future,” and it’s easy to see why.”
Magnesium alloys are significant construction materials. In fact, while Metal 12 may be new, magnesium alloys have made headlines in the past.
At the beginning of 2015, CNN reported the development of magnesium:
“The 2014 Volkswagen XL1 is currently the most fuel-efficient production car in the world. It had a carbon fiber body, magnesium alloy frame. The magnesium has contributed to building this car, which can do a staggering 313 miles per gallon.”
Now three years later, magnesium is still the next big thing. Critically, magnesium can reduce transportation costs by allowing manufacturers to build lighter cars, trucks, planes, appliances, and much more.
Magnesium can contribute to sustainability efforts. According to CNN, it can be used to build wind turbines and capture carbon dioxide. Also, lighter vehicles require less gas.
Competition drives development.
