Quick Summary
• Researchers Develop 3D Printed Foam Composite That Absorbs 10 Times More Energy Than Standard Padding March 12
Additional Context
Researchers at Texas A&M University and the DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory have created a hybrid foam material that can absorb up to 10 times more energy than conventional padding. The composite, described in the journal Composite Structures, combines ordinary foam with 3D-printed plastic columns called struts using a technique called In-Foam Additive Manufacturing (IFAM).
The research team, led by Dr. Mohammad Naraghi from Texas A&M and Dr. Eric Wetzel from the Army Research Laboratory, addresses a long-standing engineering challenge. Traditional foams are affordable but have random internal structures that limit energy absorption efficiency, while engineered cellular materials are more organized but expensive and difficult to scale.
The IFAM process builds a network of plastic struts