An SEC filing reveals that Apple has struck a deal with Delaware-based Liquidmetal Technologies to obtain rights for using patented Liquidmetal materials, which could end up in future iPods, iPhones and other Apple products that rely on strong, durable casings.

The Baltimore Sun was tipped off yesterday by Jay Rickey of Citybizlist on the SEC filing showing that Apple has obtained the use of patented Liquidmetal materials. The technology of Liquidmetal alloys enables the optimization of properties for specific applications by combination of process, chemistry and atomic structure, the inventors say. From the 8K that Liquidmetal filed with the SEC…:

On August 5, 2010, Liquidmetal Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Liquidmetal”), entered into a Master Transaction Agreement with Apple Inc., a California corporation (“Apple”), pursuant to which (i) Liquidmetal contributed substantially all of its intellectual property assets to a newly organized special-purpose, wholly-owned subsidiary (the “IP Company”), (ii) the IP Company granted to Apple a perpetual, worldwide, fully-paid, exclusive license to commercialize such intellectual property in the field of consumer electronic products in exchange for a license fee, and (iii) the IP Company granted back to Liquidmetal a perpetual, worldwide, fully-paid, exclusive license to commercialize such intellectual property in all other fields of use (together with all ancillary agreements, the “Master Transaction Agreement”).

Describing its alloys, Liquidmetal Technologies claims they are a revolutionary class of materials that redefines performance and cost paradigms. Liquidmetal alloys have superior properties, such as high yield strength, high hardness, superior strength-to-weight ratio, super elastic limit, high corrosion and high wear resistance, as well as unique acoustical properties.

These characteristics are made possible by revolutionary scientific and technological innovations, the inventors say. The materials have an unprecedented "amorphous" atomic structure, and include a multi-component chemical composition, which enables those who employ them to optimize them for various applications. According to Liquidmetal Technologies, its alloys lend themselves to process technology similar to that possessed by plastics. A video demonstrating the unique properties of Liquidmetal Alloys can be found below.