Metallic microlattice, newest light weight material

A metallic microlattice is a synthetic porous metallic material, consisting of an ultra-light form of metal foam. With a density as low as 0.9 mg/cm3 it is one of the lightest structural materials. It was developed by a team of scientists from HRL Laboratories, in collaboration with researchers at University of California, Irvine and Caltech, and was first announced in November 2011. The prototype samples were made from a nickel-phosphorus alloy. A similar ultra-lightweight material, consisting of an electrodeposited nanocrystalline nickel layer over a polymeric truss, was created by researchers at the University of Toronto in 2008.

Metallic microlattices may find potential applications as thermal and vibration insulators such as shock absorbers, and may also prove useful as battery electrodes and catalyst supports. Additionally, the microlattices' ability to return to their original state after being compressed may make them suitable for use in spring-like energy storage devices.

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