# Foam-filled titanium lattice remains buoyant after structural damage

_Published Sunday, September 20, 2026 at 8:06 PM EDT · Science, Infrastructure · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

![Dr. Jordan Noronha holding a sample of the floating titanium — Primary](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/1fef652/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2196x1153+0+156/resize/1200x630!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com%2F20%2F56%2F9b2e28994211ba0510d15c561cc8%2Ffloating-titanium-thumbnail-1.jpeg&na.image_optimisation=0)

RMIT University researchers created a 3D-printed titanium lattice that floated in fresh water and seawater despite cracks, fractured connections and the loss of an entire lattice layer. The design uses hollow Ti-6Al-4V beams filled with closed-cell polyurethane foam, which blocks water from spreading through damaged internal channels while the metal carries structural loads.

Samples remained submerged in fresh water for more than two months, and a prototype buoy floated in turbulent natural seawater. The material lost 0.15% of its mass and less than 1% of its strength during a two-week seawater test. Larger-scale construction and long-term marine durability remain unproven.

## Sources

- [New Atlas: Technology-Innovation-Outdoor News](https://newatlas.com/materials/floating-titanium/)

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Canonical: https://techandbusiness.org/newswire/Hknno4IIfL6QvglyEFpzh2
Published: 2026-09-21T00:06:14.708Z
Story chronology: 2026-09-20T23:03:00.000Z
Retrieved: 2026-09-21T02:04:48.410Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)