Abstract: Anodic oxide coatings and methods for forming anodic oxide coatings on metal alloy substrates are disclosed. Methods involve post-anodizing processes that improve the appearance of the anodic oxide coating or increase the strength of the underlying metal alloy substrates. In some embodiments, a diffusion promoting process is used to promote diffusion of one or more types of alloying elements enriched at an interface between the anodic oxide coating and the metal alloy substrate away from the interface. The diffusion promoting process can increase an adhesion strength of the anodic oxide film to the metal alloy substrate and reduce an amount of discoloration due to the enriched alloying elements. In some embodiments, a post-anodizing age hardening process is used to increase the strength of the metal alloy substrate and to improve cosmetics of the anodic oxide coatings.

Abstract: This application relates to a method for forming an enclosure for a portable electronic device. The enclosure includes a metal substrate having a first b* value. The method includes forming an anodized layer that overlays and is formed from the metal substrate, wherein the anodized layer has a second b* value that is no greater than 0.3 of the first b* value and no less than 0.3 less than the first *b value.

Abstract: An Electronic Video ev-Book of design and manufacture resolving problems of loading undesirable internet content in said book by providing means to eliminate downloading text and graphical images from the internet. The claimed invention differs from existing e-reader products as an ev-Book of flexible QLED and like video screen e-Paper pages displaying internal memory content and eliminating internet communication components. An Electronic Video ev-Book in which the minimum required electronic memory, processing capacity and video capability for all video pages is contained within embedded electronic semiconductor digital operating mini-CPU Central Processing Units. The ev-Book's purposely specified and installed components eliminate user manipulation and changing of programmed content as compared with the ease of reloading personal computer e-readers.

Abstract: This application relates to an enclosure for a portable electronic device. The enclosure includes a titanium substrate having a textured surface that includes peaks separated by valleys, where the textured surface is characterized as having (i) an Sdq (root mean square gradient) that is greater than 0.2 micrometers, and (ii) a gloss value that is greater than 90 gloss units as measured at 60 degrees by a gloss meter.

Abstract: This application relates to an enclosure for a portable electronic device. The enclosure includes a metal substrate, and an anodized layer overlaying the metal substrate and including pores having a near-infrared (NIR) light-absorbing material therein, where an average specular reflectance of NIR light that is incident upon an external surface of the anodized layer is less than 3%.

Abstract: Oxide coatings that reduce or eliminate the appearance of thin film interference coloring are described. In some embodiments, the oxide coatings are configured to reduce the appearance of fingerprints. In some cases, the oxide coatings are sufficiently thick to increase the optical path difference of incident light, thereby reducing any inference coloring by the fingerprint to a non-visible level. In some embodiments, the oxide coatings have a non-uniform thickness that changes the way light reflects off of interfaces of the oxide coating, thereby reducing or eliminating any thin film interference coloring caused by the oxide coatings themselves or by a fingerprint.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein relate to treatments for anodic layers. The methods described can be used to impart a white appearance for an anodized substrate. The anodized substrate can include a metal substrate and a porous anodic layer derived from the metal substrate. The porous anodic layer can include pores defined by pore walls and fissures formed within the pore walls. The fissures can act as a light scattering medium to diffusely reflect visible light. In some embodiments, the method can include forming fissures within the pore walls of the porous anodic layer. In some embodiments, exposing the porous anodic layer to an etching solution can form fissures. The method further includes removing a top portion of the porous anodic layer while retaining a portion of the porous anodic layer.

Abstract: This application relates to an enclosure for a portable electronic device. The enclosure includes a titanium substrate having a textured surface that includes peaks separated by valleys, where the textured surface is characterized as having (i) an Sdq (root mean square gradient) that is greater than 0.2 micrometers, and (ii) a gloss value that is greater than 90 gloss units as measured at 60 degrees by a gloss meter.

Abstract: This application relates to a part for a portable electronic device. The part includes a titanium alloy substrate including a network of branching channels. The branching channels include a first channel and a second channel, where the first channel is defined by a first channel wall that extends away from a first opening in the exterior surface, and the second channel is defined by a second channel wall that extends away from a second opening in the first channel wall.

Abstract: This application relates to a method for forming an enclosure for a portable electronic device. The enclosure includes a metal substrate having a first b* value. The method includes forming an anodized layer that overlays and is formed from the metal substrate, wherein the anodized layer has a second b* value that is no greater than 0.3 of the first b* value and no less than 0.3 less than the first *b value.

Abstract: This application relates to an anodized part. The anodized part includes a metal substrate and an anodized layer overlaying and formed from the metal substrate. The anodized layer includes (i) an external surface that includes randomly distributed light-absorbing features that are capable of absorbing visible light incident upon the external surface, and (ii) pores defined by pore walls, where color particles are infused within the pores. The anodized layer is characterized as having a color having an L* value using a CIE L*a*b* color space that is less than 10.

Abstract: This application relates to an enclosure for a portable electronic device. The enclosure includes a titanium substrate having interstitial nitrogen atoms, where the titanium substrate is characterized as having an a* value that is less than 1, a b* value that is less than 5, and an L* value that is more than 70.

Abstract: A method of forming a surface coating on a component of an electronic device can include depositing an aluminum layer including at least about 0.05 weight percent (wt %) of a grain refiner on a surface of the component by a physical vapor deposition process, and anodizing the aluminum layer to form an anodized aluminum oxide layer having a L* value greater than about 85 in the CIELAB color space.

Abstract: Anodizing techniques for providing highly opaque colorized anodic films are described. According to some embodiments, the methods involve depositing a pigment having a particle diameter of about 20 nanometers or greater into an anodic film. Additionally or alternatively, a barrier layer smoothing operation is used to flatten an interface between the anodic film and underlying metal substrate so as to maximize light reflection off the interface, thereby maximizing light reflected off the pigment that is deposited within pores of the anodic film. The resulting anodic films have an opaque or saturated colored appearance. In some embodiments, the methods involve increasing a thickness of a non-porous barrier layer of the anodic film so as to create thin film interference effects that can add a particular hue to the anodic film. The methods can be used form cosmetically appealing coatings for consumer products, such as housings for electronic products.

Abstract: Composite coatings having improved abrasion and dent resistance are described. According to some embodiments, the composite coatings include an outer hard layer and an intermediate layer between the outer hard layer and a metal substrate. The intermediate layer can have a hardness that is less than the hard outer layer but greater than the metal substrate. In this arrangement, the intermediate layer can act as a structural support that resists plastic deformation when an impact force is applied to the coating. In some embodiments, the intermediate layer is composed of a porous anodic oxide material. In some embodiments, the outer hard layer is composed of a ceramic material or a hard carbon-based material, such as diamond-like carbon.

Abstract: Sealed anodic coatings that are resistant to leaching of nickel and nickel-containing products and methods for forming the same are described. Methods involve post-sealing thermal processes to remove at least some of the leachable nickel from the sealed anodic coatings. In some embodiments, the post-sealing thermal processes involve immersing the sealed anodic coating within a heated solution so as to promote diffusion of the leachable nickel out of the sealed anodic coatings and into the heated solution. The resultant sealed anodic coating is pre-leached of nickel and is therefore well suited for many consumer product applications. In some embodiments, a post-sealing thermal process is used to further hydrate and seal the sealed anodic coating, thereby repairing structural defects within the sealed anodic coating.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for minimizing the difference in thermal expansivity between a porous anodic oxide coating and its corresponding substrate metal, so as to allow heat treatments or high temperature exposure of the anodic oxide without thermally induced crazing. A second phase of higher thermal expansivity than that of the oxide material is incorporated into the pores of the oxide in sufficient quantity to raise the coating's thermal expansion coefficient. The difference in thermal expansion between the anodic oxide coating and underlying metal substrate is reduced to a level such that thermal exposure is insufficient for any cracking to result. The second phase may be an electrodeposited metal, or an electrophoretically deposited polymer. The second phase may be uniformly deposited to a certain depth, or may be deposited at varying amounts among the pores.

Abstract: This application relates to a method for forming an enclosure for a portable electronic device, the enclosure including a metal substrate that is overlaid by an anodized layer. The method includes dyeing the anodized layer by exposing pores of the anodized layer to a dye. The method further includes sealing the dye within the pores by exposing the anodized layer to a zinc-based sealing solution, where an external surface of the anodized layer having the pores that are sealed includes an amount of zinc between about 3 wt % to about 6 wt %.

Abstract: A method for providing a surface finish to a metal part includes both diffusion hardening a metal surface to form a diffusion-hardened layer, and oxidizing the diffusion-hardened layer to create an oxide coating thereon. The diffusion-hardened layer can be harder than an internal region of the metal part and might be ceramic, and the oxide coating can have a color that is different from the metal or ceramic, the color being unachievable only by diffusion hardening or only by oxidizing. The metal can be titanium or titanium alloy, the diffusion hardening can include carburizing or nitriding, and the oxidizing can include electrochemical oxidization. The oxide layer thickness can be controlled via the amount of voltage applied during oxidation, with the oxide coating color being a function of thickness. An enhanced hardness profile can extend to a depth of at least 20 microns below the top of the oxide coating.

Abstract: This application relates to a part that includes a metal oxide layer having pore structures. In some embodiments, dye molecules having aromatic rings can be disposed within at least one of the pore structures. Additionally, the at least one pore structures can include dispersion molecules, where the dispersion molecules form non-covalent interactions with the dye molecules. By forming non-covalent interactions between the dye molecules and the dispersion molecules, the aromatic rings of the dye molecules are prevented from forming other non-covalent interactions with other dye molecules. Additionally, techniques for chemically stabilizing the color dye bath for dyeing anodized parts are also described.