Why don't they make Cell Phone screens out of Sapphire

[DCal430]

Sapphire is highly transparent, extremly hard, and highly resistant to scratching. You could drop the phone from very high heights and it still wouldn't shatter. It is also highly transparent at the visible light wavelenght. Seems like it would make the ideal phone material. You could even make a phone that was clear all around.

 

[Zeze]

That's what gorilla glass is.

 

[DCal430]

That's what gorilla glass is.

No it isn't. Gorilla Glass is Aluminosilicate Sapphire is Alluminum Oxide, Sapphire is much harder than Gorilla Glass.

 

[coldmeat]

Would it work as a touch screen?

 

[KeithTalent]

Price? Lack of touchiness?

KT

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Artificial Sapphire production is not at the necessary scale.

 

[mmntech]

I think it would cost WAY too much. We're not all ballers that can have gem stone screens for our phones.

 

[Schfifty Five]

No it isn't. Gorilla Glass is Aluminosilicate Sapphire is Alluminum Oxide, Sapphire is much harder than Gorilla Glass.

Your lack of correct punctuation is horrendous.

 

[mshan]

Isn't that what they used to protect camera on iPhone 5?

I would guess 1) cost, or 2) perhaps finding proper balance between ultimate hardness and brittleness (e. g. how samurai sword is forged with different types of steel (carbon steel?) folded onto each other so the edge / outer shell is extremely hard but core is also sufficiently flexible that it doesn't shatter because of brittleness when sword strikes something. IIRC from The History Channel (?) episode I saw on how samurai swords are made, a well made one can cut a man completely in half (bones and all) when wielded by a skilled samurai warrior.



edit: looks like it was Discovery Channel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5erZqSyiT38&feature=channel&list=UL(start around 7:40 mark)

 

[Mixolydian]

I like borosilicate glass.

 

[zinfamous]

I'm sure sapphire is lolexpensive.

also--high rigidity isn't the greatest thing, it often makes things easier to shatter.

i'm also thinking that it would suck for touch, no?

 

[Crono]

You got Versace money?

http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/20/versace-unique-launched-vertu-put-on-notice/

 

[jagec]

I'm sure sapphire is lolexpensive.

It isn't, really. You can get single-crystal optical grade polished sapphire windows (WAY higher-end than you'd use for cellphones) for pretty cheap.

That's a relative term, of course. I'm sure Gorilla Glass is far cheaper.

 

[SparkyJJO]

It could and would still shatter.

 

[Mark R]

It isn't, really. You can get single-crystal optical grade polished sapphire windows (WAY higher-end than you'd use for cellphones) for pretty cheap.

That's a relative term, of course. I'm sure Gorilla Glass is far cheaper.

I dunno. I prefer my cell phones bigger than 12 mm.

By the timer you're getting to smallphone screen size, the cost might be an issue: $600 for a 3" diameter sapphire glass.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Isn't that what they used to protect camera on iPhone 5?

I would guess 1) cost, or 2) perhaps finding proper balance between ultimate hardness and brittleness (e. g. how samurai sword is forged with different types of steel (carbon steel?) folded onto each other so the edge / outer shell is extremely hard but core is also sufficiently flexible that it doesn't shatter because of brittleness when sword strikes something. IIRC from The History Channel (?) episode I saw on how samurai swords are made, a well made one can cut a man completely in half (bones and all) when wielded by a skilled samurai warrior.



edit: looks like it was Discovery Channel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5erZqSyiT38&feature=channel&list=UL(start around 7:40 mark)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=rwQqtf86qOc&NR=1

 

[mshan]

Thanks.

Yeah, I think that was the tv show I remember seeing.

 

[deadlyapp]

most high end watches use a sapphire face. about half my watches have sapphire faces.

The big issue is that it is very brittle. If you dropped your phone it would be even more prone to breakage than the current materials. It is highly scratch resistant though.

I'm not sure how its conductivity is as far as being a good touch screen surface though.

 

[Fern]

It could and would still shatter.

^This^

Won't scratch, but will shatter. That's the risk if you've got a sapphire crystal on your watch.

Fern

 

[jagec]

I dunno. I prefer my cell phones bigger than 12 mm.

By the timer you're getting to smallphone screen size, the cost might be an issue: $600 for a 3" diameter sapphire glass.

A cellphone-designed piece would be much thinner and much lower grade. And possibly polycrystalline, I dunno.

 

[HeXen]

Your lack of correct punctuation is horrendous.

I fixed your post. Your facial expression means more

 

[Ichinisan]

Because chemically-hardened glass is better.

 

[squirrel dog]

monkey glass,it's the way to go.

 

[Fritzo]

Kryptonite is much better. In fact, I have a kryptonite crucifix. It keeps Dracula AND Superman away.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Poor damage tolerance. Will crack every easily.