A new 3D printed “metamaterial” that has extraordinary levels of strength for weight has been created by a team from RMIT University, Australia. It could have significant positive implications for everything from medical implants to aircraft.
The new material is made from a common titanium alloy. Remarkably, it's strength-to-weight ratio is 50 percent greater than advanced metal alloys used in aerospace applications. The team's findings are published in the journal Advanced Materials.
The key is in its structure, as the material has a unique lattice design. As with many game-changing inventions, the inspiration for this new material came from observations of the natural world. In this case, strong hallow-stemmed plants such as Victoria water lilies and hardy corals such as organ-pipe coral.
Yet observing strong natural structures is one thing, replicating it in artificial materials is quite another. Indeed, for decades researchers have attempted to create their own hollow “cellular structures” similar to those seen in nature, but without success.
The difference today is in the unprecedented innovative solutions offered by metal 3D printing. “We designed a hollow tubular lattice structure that has a thin band running inside it. These two elements together show strength and lightness never before seen together in nature,” says Professor Ma Qian. “By effectively merging two complementary lattice structures to evenly distribute stress, we avoid the weak points where stress normally concentrates.”
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