Subheader Icon 877-412-3651
Request a quote
Article New Boeing Video Introduces The World’s Lightest Metal Ever Image

Boeing has released a video highlighting microlattice, what they say is the lightest metal ever made.

From the YouTube description:

At 99.99% air, it’s light enough to balance on top of a dandelion, while its structure makes it strong. Strength and record breaking lightness make it a potential metal for future planes and vehicles.

Comprised of interconnecting hollow tubes that are each 1000 times thinner than a human hair, microlattice is classified as a “3D open-cellular polymer structure.”

Incredibly, it is 100 times lighter than styrofoam, making microlattice one of the strongest materials known to science in general.

The most obvious application for the ultra light metal is in aerospace where use of it within a plane would reduce the weight of the aircraft and save an astronomical amount of money on fuel.

Research scientist at HRL laboratories, Sophia Yang, says the metal is comparable to bone, whereby the outside of the bone is rigid while the inside is mostly hollow.

This results in an open-cellular structure that ultimately lends to microlattice being extremely strong and lightweight at the same time.

Related Articles

Latest Scientists Build Memory Chip That Keeps Working at 1300°F, Hotter Than Lava Image
Industry News

Scientists Build Memory Chip That Keeps Working at 1300°F, Hotter Than Lava

A Breakthrough Beyond Extreme Heat In a remarkable advance for next-generation electronics, scientists have developed a new memory chip capable of surviving temperatures as high as 1300°F (700°C) — hotter than molten lava. The breakthrough, achieved by researchers at the University of Southern California (USC), could transform the future of electronics used in some of the harshest environments

Latest What is “Nominal Pipe Size”? Image
Aerospace

What is “Nominal Pipe Size”?

You’ve probably encountered the abbreviation NPS previously on our or similar websites. It means “Nominal Pipe Size,” and it is the North American standard for measuring pipe sizes used for various pressures and temperatures. The NPS standard is widely accepted in the USA, but some things have to be observed correctly in order to find the right nominal pipe size. The reason is very straightforw

Latest REalloys Commits $40 Million to Build Largest Non-China Heavy Rare Earth Metal Plant Image
Industry News

REalloys Commits $40 Million to Build Largest Non-China Heavy Rare Earth Metal Plant

REalloys has given the green light to a heavy rare earth metallization facility, it says will be the largest of its kind outside China, and the first commercial-scale operation in North America built to comply with U.S. defense sourcing rules taking effect in 2027. The project is fully financed after a recent $50 million raise, and first operations are targeted for the first half of 2027. While

Latest Metal Density Chart: Density of Common Metals Explained Image
Defense

Metal Density Chart: Density of Common Metals Explained

A metal density chart is a valuable reference for engineers, fabricators, and procurement professionals working with metals across industries like aerospace, defense, construction, and medical manufacturing. Understanding metal density directly impacts material selection, structural performance, and overall project cost. When comparing metals such as steel, aluminum, titanium, and nickel alloys