The Lightest Metal Ever is 99.9% Air

Dec 11, 2015

“The lightest metal” ever, which is 99.9 percent air, and developed by Boeing. Microlattice is the name of the material that appears solid from the outside, but it’s an open cellular structure similar to honeycombs inside, which makes it very durable and light-weight. It will be used by Boeing in airplanes to cut down weights and increase fuel efficiency.

The material is tough enough to persist the rigors of flight. It’s like a sponge made out of metallic springs that is compressible and absorbs energy as well. Scientists claim it is 100 times lighter than Styrofoam.

Boeing demonstrated the lightness by placing a metal on top of a dandelion and they balanced it smoothly without destroying its florets. Its unique intertwining diagonal structure with small open spaces has the potential to make it a default metal for future airplanes and vehicles.

Aerospace and automotive companies are constantly striving to make their materials as lightweight as possible in order to save fuel and without sacrificing structural integrity. The Microlattices holds huge promise because the material created is not only incredibly light, but also very strong. These new lightweight materials will replace much bulkier ones, making aircrafts and vehicles more lightweight and energy efficient.

Source: http://www.treehugger.com/clean-technology/lightest-metal-ever-999-air.html