The market potential of computer hard disk platters is huge and developing rapidly. Among the many materials that can be used in the computer industry, titanium has gradually become an ideal material for key components such as hard disk drives due to its unique advantages. With the rapid development of the information industry and the increasingly fierce market competition, the application prospects of titanium alloy in computer hardware are becoming increasingly broad.
Hard disk platters: "boost" of storage performance
Computer hard disk platters have extremely high-performance requirements for materials. Titanium alloy in computer hardware (mainly Ti-3Al-2.5V) has shown many advantages over traditional materials in this field. Compared with general aluminum alloy and glass hard disks, titanium alloy hard disk platters have higher strength. This feature allows the thickness of the platter to be reduced, thereby increasing the storage density and rotation speed. At the same time, the surface finish of titanium alloy platters is extremely high, which can effectively reduce the distance between the read-write head and the disk, further improving the storage density. In addition, titanium platters also have significant characteristics such as high damage tolerance and high surface hardness, which provide a strong guarantee for the stable operation and long-term use of hard disks.
Laptop shell: a "fusion" of beauty and performance
In the field of laptops, titanium also shines. In January 2001, Apple Computer (APPLE) of the United States launched the innovative Titanium PowerBook G4 laptop computer, which uses grade 1 industrial pure titanium to make the shell. This titanium shell computer is not only beautiful in appearance but also excellent in performance. Compared with magnesium, titanium has a higher tensile strength (titanium is 106.3GPa, magnesium is 44.4GPa) and lower thermal conductivity (titanium is 17W/mK, only 1/9 of magnesium's 159/W/mK). Therefore, while achieving thin-walled titanium shells, it can maintain sufficient strength, effectively suppress the heat diffusion from the hardware, prevent the bottom from overheating, and bring users a more comfortable experience.
Lenovo's ThinkPad A series and T series laptop shells also use titanium-based composite materials. The application of this material not only improves the strength and shock resistance of the case but also makes the computer thinner and more portable, meeting the dual needs of modern users for laptop portability and durability.
Industry promotion: the "new driving force" of innovative development
Timet, an American company, keenly captured the huge potential of titanium alloy in computer hardware and invested 5 million US dollars to establish the internal organization of titanium disks. As early as 1998, the company carried out new developments on small-scale microcomputer drive components, and the use of titanium for hard disks brought significant economic benefits and development opportunities to Timet.
In terms of production technology, disks are mostly made of precision cold-rolled titanium or titanium alloy processes. In order to further improve the performance of the disk, the surface of the disk can be hardened by plasma nitriding, plasma carburizing, or plasma carbonitriding, or a layer of titanium nitride or titanium boride hard coating can be sprayed. These treatment methods effectively enhance the wear resistance and corrosion resistance of the disk and extend the service life of the hard disk.
In summary, titanium alloys have been widely used in computer hardware such as computer hard disk platters and laptop computer shells due to their excellent performance, and have promoted technological innovation and development in related industries. With the continuous advancement of information technology, titanium alloy in computer hardware will surely become more extensive and in-depth.
