ENCAPSULATION OF A STIFFENER LAYER IN ALUMINUM

• Main Authors: CHAN COLLIN D, CROWLEY MATTHEW W, RUNGE JUDE MARY
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 07.05.2015
• Subjects: APPARATUS THEREFOR; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; CHEMISTRY; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATIONOR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY IONIMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; ELECTROFORMING; ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION INGENERAL; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS; METALLURGY; PRINTED CIRCUITS; PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTIONOF COATINGS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THESURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION

The described embodiments relate to methods and apparatus for increasing rigidity of a metal housing while maintaining or reducing a wall thickness of the metal housing. More particularly a method for embedding a stiffener layer within an aluminum substrate is discussed. In one exemplary embodiment the stiffener layer can be a carbon fiber sheet applied to an inside surface of an unfinished housing and then subsequently covered by depositing a layer of aluminum over the carbon fiber in a solid-state deposition process. The deposited aluminum can adhere to the unfinished housing around or through the carbon fiber layer to bond with the unfinished housing. Deposition parameters can be controlled to prevent damage to the carbon fiber sheet.