Apple Card Found to Contain 90% Titanium and 10% Aluminum

Bloomberg Businessweek sent an Apple Card to University of California, Berkeley professor and mineralogist Hans-Rudolf Wenk to determine the card's atomic makeup. The answer: 90% titanium and 10% aluminum.

apple card front back
From the report:

But how much titanium? To find out, a Bloomberg Businessweek reporter sent his card to a mineralogist, University of California, Berkeley professor Hans-Rudolf Wenk. Professor Wenk used what's known as a scanning electron microscope, or SEM device, to determine the card's atomic makeup. He found that the answer is about 90%. The rest of the card is aluminum, according to the analysis.

Apple previously said the card's white finish is achieved through a "multi-layer coating process" that is added to the titanium base material. In a recent support document, Apple said if the card comes into contact with hard surfaces or materials, it is possible that the coating can be damaged.

Apple also said some fabrics, like leather and denim, might cause permanent discoloration on the card that will not wash off.

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Top Rated Comments

ChrisMoBro Avatar
76 months ago
90% titanium, 10% aluminium and 100% lame.
Score: 47 Votes (Like | Disagree)
hubieonekanubie Avatar
76 months ago
It’s most likely 6AL4V titanium alloy. Commercially pure titanium is soft and would bend very easily. Almost all things that are said to be titanium are titanium alloys with other things mixed in. There was probably vanadium in there as well.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TonyC28 Avatar
76 months ago
Wonder if Jony Ive insisted on throwing some aluminium in there
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
japanime Avatar
76 months ago
After determining the card's atomic makeup, the professor informed the Bloomberg reporter that he was going on an extended overseas vacation, and that he would return the Apple Card to the reporter "if I come, er, I mean, when I come back." :D
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chris975d Avatar
76 months ago
It’s most likely 6AL4V titanium alloy. Commercially pure titanium is soft and would bend very easily. Almost all things that are said to be titanium are titanium alloys with other things mixed in. There was probably vanadium in there as well.
This. As someone in an industry that revolves around titanium, "common" titanium contains aluminum and vanadium. 6al4v as you referred to. Almost anything made of "titanium" has this makeup. 6% up to sometimes 10% aluminum. This is not news at all.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BlueKhufu Avatar
76 months ago
sorry i don't have the apple card (yet).
how much does the card weigh in grams?
and next i want to find out the price of titanium.
Both available via search. 14.75 grams, anywhere from $30-50USD per kg Ti. So less than a dollar per card for the titanium, likely closer to $.50
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)