Opportunities / ENERGY, DEPARTMENT OF

TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY: Extremely Light Foam (ELF)

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Description (excerpt)

ELF (Extremely Light Foam) is a new way to make structural foam that is both much lighter and much stronger than today’s alternatives. The process, developed by scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory, uses common epoxy materials mixed with tiny hollow particles and a temporary liquid that later evaporates. As the material cures, this liquid naturally leaves behind a well-organized network of empty space, creating a foam that is mostly air but still highly resistant to crushing and pressure. The result is a material that can be up to twice as strong at the same weight as conventional foams, while remaining easy to pour, mold, and manufacture at scale using safe, commercially available ingredients. Because it combines low weight, high strength, simple processing, and design flexibility, ELF is well suited for commercial applications in marine systems, aerospace and transportation, lightweight structural panels, insulation, and impact-absorbing components. How it Works: The technology works by intentionally using a temporary liquid during the curing of a polymer foam to shape its internal structure. When the liquid-filled mixture hardens, the liquid naturally separates from the solid material and later evaporates, leaving behind a network of tiny, well-distributed voids between microscopic hollow particles embedded in the polymer. By carefully controlling the type of liquid used and the curing conditions, these voids form in a predictable and repeatable way rather than randomly. This controlled internal architecture is what gives the material its unusual combination of low weight and high resistance to crushing, while still allowing the material to be poured, molded, and manufactured using standard industrial processes and readily available materials Key Advantages: Exceptionally low weight while maintaining high structural integrity, achieving densities well below conventional structural foams High resistance to crushing and compression, even under extreme pressures Simple, low-cost manufacturing process using standard equipment and commercially available materials Easy to cast and mold into complex shapes and large parts without specialized tooling Safe and non-hazardous materials, supporting easier handling and regulatory acceptance Multifunctional performance, offering structural support, thermal insulation, and impact energy absorption in a single material Market Applications: Marine & Offshore (lightweight buoyancy materials, pressure-tolerant str …

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