Engineers Create a World-First in Floating Titanium
The foam-filled lattice was 70% stronger than common marine materials and stayed buoyant after cracking, crushing and a two-week seawater soak, researchers said.
- RMIT University researchers developed a foam-filled, 3D-printed titanium lattice that remains buoyant even after severe structural damage, offering a promising new material for marine infrastructure.
- Metallic lattices typically sink because water enters their open, interconnected spaces; engineers solved this by injecting expanding polyurethane foam into hollow titanium struts to create sealed, gas-trapping channels.
- Testing showed the structure was 70% stronger than 316L stainless steel at the same density, while seawater immersion in Melbourne's Port Phillip Bay for two weeks caused only 0.15% mass loss.
- The team demonstrated the technology using a marine buoy that remained stable in turbulent seawater tilted up to 45 degrees, maintaining buoyancy despite cracking and connection failures.
- Lead researcher Jordan Noronha and Distinguished Professor Ma Qian said the structure could adapt for 'energy absorption, thermal management, vibration control and other applications,' with future work scaling production for real-world marine conditions.
12 Articles
12 Articles
How RMIT Researchers Made 3D Printed Titanium Float on Water
Researchers at RMIT University have created the first buoyant metal-polymer open-cell hybrid lattice metamaterial that floats in water, addressing a fundamental incompatibility between porous metal architectures and buoyancy. Published in Advanced Materials, the study introduces a hybrid architecture that combines 3D printed titanium lattices with injected polyurethane foam to achieve skeletal densities below 1.0 g/cm³.…
3D-printed foam-filled titanium stays afloat despite cracks
A titanium structure that lets water pass through its openings could offer a new approach to building buoys, jetties and floating sensors. Researchers led by RMIT University have developed a foam-filled metal lattice that floats despite damage and outperforms common marine materials at the same overall density. The study describes a 3D-printed framework of hollow, interconnected titanium struts filled with polyurethane foam. Samples remained afl…
Australian researchers create floating titanium metamaterial
Australian researchers have built a 3D-printed titanium structure that floats in water and keeps floating even after significant damage, according to a study led by RMIT University. The material is a lattice made of hollow, interconnected titanium struts filled with polyurethane foam. Researchers said it withstands seawater exposure and is stronger than the stainless steel […]
Maritime Reporter
maritimeprofessional.comFloating Titanium Lattice Could Out-Perform Steel and Plastic
Australian engineers have created a strong and lightweight titanium material that floats in water, even after severe damage, revealing a promising new material for marine infrastructure.Research led by RMIT University shows the 3D-printed titanium lattice – made up of hollow…
Engineers create a world-first in floating titanium
Research led by RMIT University shows the 3D-printed titanium lattice—made up of hollow, interconnected struts filled with foam—not only floats but also withstands seawater exposure and is stronger than the stainless steel or high-density plastic currently used in jetties, buoys and floating sensors. The paper is published in the journal Advanced Materials.
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