Floating 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, 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.

Lead researcher from RMIT’s Centre for Additive Manufacturing, Dr Jordan Noronha, said their latest creation had overcome a fundamental challenge in making metallic lattice structures float.

“Although metallic lattices can be incredibly light – with densities less than one-tenth the density of water – their open, interconnected spaces allow water to enter, causing them to sink,” Noronha said. “This has made these strong, lightweight structures unsuitable for marine infrastructure – until now. By filling only the hollow titanium struts with polyurethane foam, we created a structure that allows water to flow through it while remaining buoyant even after significant cracking and damage.”

The study is the first reported demonstration of a floating metal-hybrid lattice metamaterial, while its sustained buoyancy was validated by samples that floated in freshwater for