Apple's new iPhone 5 could be housed in a little-known hi-tech alloy known as 'liquid metal' - which feels like glass to the touch.

The alloy, a mix of titanium, nickel, copper and zirconium among other metals, is tough, light and scratch resistant, and said to feel as smooth as glass.

But analysts fear that shortages of hi-tech components could mean the device is delayed until October.

A concept of what the new handset might look like designed for MacRumors: Apple's new iPhone 5 could be housed in a little-known hi-tech alloy known as 'liquid metal' - which feels like glass to the touch

Ciccarese Design's 'concept' iPhone 5: The material can be shaped in a process similar to the 'injection moulding', used for plastic which could lead to a rounder, more organic shape for the new handset The material can be shaped in a process similar to the 'injection moulding', used for plastic which could lead to a rounder, more organic shape for the new handset.

The leak was reported in Korean IT News, which said, 'In the meantime, iPhone5 is likely to take liquid metal, an alloy of zirconium, titanium, nickel, copper and so forth having an outer surface smooth like liquid.'

Korean IT News predicted that the handset would launch in June at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference. The design is not finalised - the images here are concept designs made by