Samsung smartphones feature Alcoa aluminum

Alcoa, with headquarters in New York and Pittsburgh, is supplying a high-strength, aerospace-grade aluminum to Samsung for its latest smartphones: the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge. This is the first time Samsung will use an aluminum frame for its Galaxy S flagship model. The Alcoa says its aerospace-grade aluminum, 6013 Alcoa Power Plate™, is 70 percent stronger than standard aluminum used in similar devices, creating a thinner, lighter, sleeker design.

“When we designed the metal framed Galaxy S6 and S6 edge, it was important to find a strong yet light metal that would create a device capable of exciting our customers,” says D.J. Koh, chief technology officer (CTO) and executive vice president of mobile communication business at Samsung Electronics. ”Alcoa’s Power Plate is the perfect fit to create the phones that our customers want: thinner, lighter and stronger.”

Developed by Alcoa Technical Center scientists, the Alcoa Power Plate aerospace-grade aluminum combines advanced strength and corrosion resistance for products that require superior durability, Alcoa says.

”Alcoa’s Power Plate has been battle tested across aerospace, automotive and military uses, proving it can withstand the heavy use and tough treatment endured by mobile devices,” says Ray Kilmer, executive vice president and CTO of Alcoa. “Samsung’s leading designers wanted to develop a thinner, sleeker device without sacrificing durability. Innovating with Samsung, Alcoa’s metallurgists identified a solution that gives the Galaxy one of the strongest and most durable aluminum bodies available on the market.”

Alcoa says its technologies for the consumer electronics market support its broader strategy to grow its value-add portfolio. Other Alcoa consumer electronics solutions include ProStrength™, a proprietary surface finishing technology also using aerospace-grade aluminum for thinner, lighter and stronger mobile devices.