Corrosion/Pitting in Macbook Pro Case

This issue has come up from time to time, and the consensus seems to be that it is caused by a few individuals' body chemistry reacting with the aluminum and causing the pitting. Other than wearing gloves, you could use something like a Marware protection pack, which has a piece that covers the palm rests.

http://www.marware.com/PRODUCTS/Apple-Laptop-Products/Protection-Pack-for-MacBoo k-Pro

Good luck!

Hi Mrkristofo,

I have the same problem as you indicated in your photos. My machine is 18mths old and I have noticed the pitting on the surface board where the base of my thumbs rest.

I want to know about cleaning and restoring the aluminium surface. Any ideas from other users please?

Chris Fuse

Kris,

I am in Salt Lake as well and am having the exact same issue with my MBP. It is just slightly over a year old. I have thought about taking it down to the apple store... Have you tried this yet and if you have did they have a resolution??

Mark

I have the same problem on both of my MacBook Pros. One's just minor pitting. The other one is much worse than the picture you posted. And I do wash my hands regularly. Apparently, I have a "unique" skin pH. At least that's what Apple tells me. I probably won't by another MacBook Pro as a result.

I have this exact same issue.

This is caused by the laptop not being grounded and sweat. Basically you are creating a perfect environment for electrolysis. The fix as some have suggested is to insulate case from you (your sweat), or proper grounding. The problem can be accelerated if you use the 2 prong mini plug.

A Marware pad is also good, and is what I'm using now. Plus, it's pretty confortable as a wrist cushion and it prevents the keyboard from ever touching the lcd.

Like everyone on the thread I am having the same problem and it is very frustrating. Less than a year old and the palm pads on my MBP look like crap.. I already use a Incase sleeve and a Speck hard shell.. Now I need to cover the inside? The Mac looks great, but I hate having to cover the entire thing just to keep it looking good.

Sorry for the Rant.. My question is has anyone had a successful trip to the Apple Store or case with Apple Care about this problem that they can share? Trying to decide if it is worth my while to open a case or make a trip to the store.

Thanks,

well, my palm didn't make some cavities under them, but I have no more paints on 12 keys, and the paint is going away from the small aluminium at the bottom and at the top of the keyboard.
I'm glad to hear all the 'clean your hands, put a protection, and either... But , after more than 12 Macintosh, used in the same conditions, that's the first time I have these issues.
May be we can think about a bad manufacturing process, no ????

(and for the "put it to the ground" answer , which could make sense, what about for a computer which is used on battery ? where is the ground ? )

I have both issues
1) pitting. I have a 2007 macbook pro but it started to pit after just a month or so. I have been using a MarWare wrist protector since then, but it's now spoiling and I have to order online for a replacement, as shops nowadays only carry the protector for the new unibody.

2) keys' paint. I am very surprised to find that the paint on 2 of my keys smudging.

Are any of the above issues something which I can bring to the Apple Service Center, and have them covered under AppleCare?

I have the same problem. It is absolutely APPALLING how bad my Macbook Pro looks after 2 years of moderate use. And I use a Speck cover, too! The resale value is almost nonexistent now because of how corroded the aluminum is. Apple's response to this has been: "Sorry. Your skin must be more acidic. So it's basically your fault."

Because of this pitting, and Apple's refusal to address it, I am in the process of creating a high profile website highlighting just how bad a deal the Macbook Pro is in the long run. I am going to include pictures of my previous laptop which had 25 % of the exterior case severely corroded. I am also going to chronicle the corroding of my Unibody, which may be my last Apple laptop if it happens again. An aluminum laptop isn't that cool when it looks like a black, pitted, piece of junk.

I would have to agree about pH being BS. If my pitting was caused by my skin pH or chemistry my laptop would be severely pitted by now. I have an A1151 model.

I have a MBP 17 that was purchased in Nov 2006. Within a few months I had 3 the symtoms of 3 areas of pitting:

Area 1: Top inside near keyboard, left side just below the Fn and left CTRL and OPTION keys. It's C shaped with either ends of the C being the Fn key and the OPTION key with a very nice and undamaged bit just below the CTRL key.

Area 2: Top inside, above the superdrive bay, 1/3 from the left. Less damage than Area 1.

Area 3: Front sidee, on top and bottom of the case button/sleep LED as well as the joint (heavily pitting about that where the side joins the darker grey plastic piece as well. The button turned a grey color but I remember it being partially discoloured and now it is entirely dark grey.

Now, there are a couple of arguments against pH or my body chemistry as a cause.

a) I'm the only user and douby my pH has significantly changed since I've had the laptop but the corrosion happened and appears to have stopped at some point. I have no cover or protector. The problem has not gotten any worse than how it was after 2-3 months after purchase.

c) Area 1 doesn't make sense since my palm routinely covers both the corroded and uncorroded area.

d) Area 3 which has arguably the least contact has the deepest corrosion. I can't imagine I touch it very often or nearly as often as hours of hands on keyboard use.

e) I was doing alot of airline travel at the time of purchase and I remember that I was asked to consent to a swab of my laptop a couple of times (now I'm thinking at least 3).

I can only think of two rational explanations for the corrosion. Either there is some defect or problem on Apple's side for Al in macbook pros laptops sold at this time.

Or alternatively, the US airport security apparatus was using a corrosive solvent on there laptop swabbing tests from the period of Nov 2006-Mar 2007.

I definitely remember watching the open/close button turing 3/4 greyish over time during those few months (there was one hold out shiny 1/4 aluminum part) and then eventually all is dark grey.

Needless to say this was highly disappointing for I went from enthusiastic new macbook pro owner to disappointed owner in 3 months.

I'm interested in knowing more information about other people who also have a similar pitting experience.

Needless to say, the pitting I experienced combined with the overheating and rumors of improper thermal paste application at the factory, make me question if I'll spend $4,000 on another macbook now that this one is quiet dated.

Same as everybody else -heavy, ugly pitting on my macbook pro (as well as on my powerbook).
My question is: Does the corrosion of the aluminum powder coat pose a health risk (since aluminum is a toxin) because my sweaty and acidic palms absorb that stuff every day?

Hi all, i seriously feel its the acids from our hands that causes these pitting. I just bought my MBP 4 months ago and it already started pitting; and only at the small area where my palm is resting. For those who purchased the new Macbook pro from 2009, we will realize the heat from HD is on the left side of the hand resting area. But for me, i had no pitting at all on the left area and thus i think the heat is not a major factor. I seldom use my macbook for typing but more on scrolling and clicking using the trackpad with my right hand. Thus I must conclude its definitely due to some chemical reaction going on between my hand and the aluminum casing. I would also like to know if anybody has been successful with applecare regarding this issue? Though i could even calculate the number of pits (9 to be exact), it still bothers me alot.

The pitting and loss of color of the macbook pro case appears to be a combination of sweat and heavier than normal fatigue loading (i.e. pressing the latch or a particular key a lot with more than usual force - as one might do in relatively normal use like playing a video game) that causes this. The heat that develops from intense processor or hard disk use can only increase any sweating and speed up the process.

With an applecare plan, I took my macbook pro to an apple store because the logic board failed. They replaced the logic board as it was covered under the warranty. However, when I asked about my embattled case, the answer was no - it's just cosmetic.

Part of what you pay for when buying an Apple product is image. The products are supposed to run better and look better than the competition. I argue that Apple has more of an obligation than other computer manufacturers to support customers with pitting and otherwise discolored cases because of their companywide emphasis on form factor and style, which is not seen in other computer manufacturers. A grimy case that could not withstand routine use is certainly a failed product in this instance and appears to be an oversight in product testing and quality control.

A free solution to this problem would be nice but even a solution with a small fee could be acceptable. A case replacement program or some sort of patch kit would be amazing.

I recall this is not unheard of on the Al Books. I'd try Applecare or the Apple Store.