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Boeing created microlattice, the lightest metal ever, which is 99.99% air. It weighs one-tenth of carbon fiber and may be used in space rockets and commercial aircraft.
In 2015, Boeing announced the creation of the lightest metal ever, a microlattice material that the aerospace company describes as 99.99 percent air. It was developed by HRL Laboratories, a joint venture between Boeing and General Motors, in collaboration with Caltech and UC Irvine. Micro-latex weighs only about one-tenth as much as carbon fiber and is said to be slightly lighter than air itself. The material will likely be used first on space rockets that Boeing plans to build in the near future. After that, it should be incorporated into commercial aircraft design. When the cost of production comes down, it may be viable for use in automobiles.
How to float in the air:
Boeing describes the metallic microlattice as an “open cell polymer structure”. The material would be ideal for structural components, such as sidewalls or floor panels on aircraft.
Microlatex has the appearance of a sponge, or a net, and is both flexible and resistant.
Breakthrough conclusion: A lighter aircraft requires less fuel, which is an airline’s biggest expense.
