ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES | NOVEMBER 2026 EMERGING TECHNOLOGY 12 3D-PRINTED TITANIUM LATTICE STAYS AFLOAT Engineers at Australia’s RMIT University developed a lightweight, 3D-printed titanium structure that remains buoyant even after significant damage, offering potential applications in marine infrastructure. The hybrid lattice comprises hollow, interconnected titanium struts filled with polyurethane foam. Unlike conventional metallic lattices, which can sink as water enters their open spaces, the design allows water to flow through the structure while maintaining flotation. Researchers demonstrated that the material remained buoyant in freshwater for more than two months. Testing also showed it was 70% stronger than stainless steel or high-density polyethylene used in marine applications when compared at the same overall density. To predict buoyancy in open structures, the team developed a measure called skeletal density, which accounts only for components that exclude water, including titanium walls and sealed, foamfilled channels. In seawater corrosion testing, the lattice lost just 0.15% of its mass after two weeks, while its strength declined by less than 1%. The structure also remained buoyant after cracking, connection failures, and the fracture of an entire lattice layer. It sank only after severe crushing and compaction. The researchers demonstrated the technology in a 3D-printed marine buoy that remained stable in a turbulent seawater tank tilted to 45 degrees, without a sealed casing, protective coating, or additional flotation. The team plans to scale up the components and investigate long-term performance in marine and deep-sea conditions. Potential applications beyond marine infrastructure include energy absorption, thermal management, and vibration control. www.rmit.edu.au. PRINTED MATERIAL ENABLES ADAPTIVE COOLING Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana- Champaign created a printable textile that combines passive cooling with motion-powered energy harvesting to enable adaptive temperature control in wearable applications. The team de- signed a single nanocomposite material that reflects sunlight, releases heat to its surroundings, and generates electrical signals from human movement. The approach integrates cooling and energy harvesting without requiring multiple functional layers. Using direct ink writing, researchers say they can print the material into flexible, breathable textile structures suitable for applications such as athletic clothing. Testing showed the textile reflected 96% of incoming sunlight while efficiently releasing heat. During outdoor trials under direct sunlight, it maintained temperatures approximately 3° to 6°C cooler than the surrounding air. The new technology can also use energy generated by human motion to adjust its thermal response. Electrical signals produced during movement can trigger and regulate heating, allowing the textile to switch between passive cooling and active heating according to the wearer’s activity. The integrated approach could offer a pathway toward wearable materials that manage temperature while capturing energy from everyday movement. Its printable construction and breathable structure may also support development of clothing that responds dynamically to changing environmental conditions and physical exertion. mechse.illinois.edu. QuesTek Innovations, Evanston, Illinois, was named Innovator of the Year at the 2026 Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Awards for its ICMD materials simulation software. ICMD models likely outcomes before companies commit to testing, tooling, and manufacturing iterations. questek.com. BRIEF Cross sections of the titanium lattice cube are shown before and after being filled with polyurethane foam for buoyancy. Courtesy of Sara Tan/RMIT. Photographs show the textile’s mechanical flexibility (left) and permeable fiber-structured geometry (middle). Infrared thermal image of textile on shirt under light exposure (right).
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