Apple recently signed an exclusive deal to use Liquidmetal Technologies' special amorphous metallic alloys in its consumer electronics devices. But before Apple made such a bold move to single-source critical materials for its products, Apple put the company's abilities to the test by having it make a part for a previous iPhone. Cult of Mac reveals that part to be the SIM ejector tool supplied with the US iPhone 3G.

Apple used the small part—one that is not integral to the device's functionality—to see if the company was capable or producing a custom design to Apple's specifications. Typically, manufacturers prefer to have at least two sources for parts, so that a supply problem from one supplier won't halt manufacturing. Since Liquidmetal is only available from one source, Apple needed to make sure the company could deliver.

Atakan Peker, who co-invented Liquidmetal's unique alloy, said he instantly noticed that the SIM ejector tool supplied with the iPhone 3G was made of the unique material. "That's my metal," Peker told Cult of Mac. "I recognized it immediately. Take it from an expert, that's Liquidmetal."

Apple hasn't revealed its plans to incorporate the material into devices like the iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, but Peker suspects it could be used to design a better, lighter antenna than that currently used on the iPhone 4. Cult of Mac notes the material was successfully used to make an antenna for a 3G modem, and Peker said that the alloy can be altered to optimize its performance for that use.

Because of its rigidity and relatively light weight, it could also replace structural materials like aluminum, stainless steel, and glass used in current Apple devices. "This is a highly flexible material," Peker said. "Apple could do some very creative cases."

Peker believes that Apple and its VP of industrial design, Jonathan Ive, is capable of utilizing the materials to come up with very novel design. "It is hard to predict what will come, when you leave such a technology to the imagination and creativity of Apple product development and innovation," he told Cult of Mac. "I won't be surprised with some very interesting products in the future."