Apple plans to use Carbon Fiber in MacBook Air

Apple launched MacBook Air with the claim "World's thinnest notebook". Apple was right about that but now after about a year , rumors are that people are not satisfied with the system's weight which is approximately 3.0 pounds.

It is now reported that to overcome this issue Apple has started looking into substituting carbon fiber parts for certain structural components which are currently made of heavier aircraft-grade aluminum.

The high strength-to-weight ratio of carbon fiber has made it a popular choice for the aerospace, sporting, auto industry etcetera. It is being used for aircraft parts, bicycle frames and performance car bodies.

Carbon fiber is an extremely lightweight material made up of very thin fibers about 0.005-0.010 millimeters in diameter and composed mostly of carbon atoms. The atoms bond together in microscopic crystals that are aligned parallel to the long axis of the fiber and can thus be used to form remarkably strong composites without requiring more material.

More recently, its application has spilled into the computing industry, with vendors such as Sony and HP's Voodoo PC brand all using it to construct lightweight notebook enclosures. For its part, Apple is reportedly looking to adopt the material for only a portion of Air's enclosure. The firm is extremely proud of the notebook's precision unibody upper chassis, which it mills from a single extruded block of aluminum. While no changes have been proposed for this component, those familiar with ongoing R&D efforts say the company is hoping to replacing the Air's lower aluminum case, or bottom cover, with one constructed from carbon fiber.

The move would reportedly raise production costs but shave upwards of a 100 grams off the notebook, dropping its weight from a hair over 3 pounds (or 1363 grams) to 2.78 pounds (or 1263 grams). A pre-production unit showcasing the new part was said to look identical to the existing Air with the exception of the carbon fiber bottom, which appeared in the material's native black.

Take a look at the weight distribution chart provided by iFixit.