Syntactic Foam:
A crucial set of tests on the Samudrayaan, India’s first manned-submersible dive into the ocean, is likely only mid-next year following a delay in the procurement of syntactic foam cladding from France.
- A syntactic foam is a composite material that is produced by filling a metal, polymer, or ceramic with pre-formed inorganic hollow spheres known as micro balloons.
- The use of hollow microspheres allows foam to maintain a low weight while offering excellent compressive strength.
- Its inherent low density makes it ideal for subsea applications where buoyancy is critical.
- It reduces thermal conductivity and dampens noise, improving performance in marine and aerospace environments.
- The closed-cell structure prevents water absorption, enhancing its longevity in saltwater and chemically aggressive environments.
- Ideal for Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), and pipeline insulation.
- Used in satellite components and structural parts where weight reduction is essential without sacrificing strength.
- Employed in sonar domes, buoyancy modules, and lightweight armor due to its impact resistance.
- Increasingly adopted for lightweight, high-impact applications such as crash protection and performance gear.
- Samudrayaan Project is India’s first manned mission to explore the deep ocean.
- It is aimed to develop a self-propelled manned submersible to carry three human beings to a water depth of 6,000 meters in the ocean with a suite of scientific sensors and tools for deep ocean exploration.
- It is designed to study the deep ocean resources and conduct biodiversity assessments as well.
- The project is part of the larger Deep Ocean Mission, which supports the Central Government’s Blue Economy policy.
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
- MATSYA 6000 is a manned submersible vehicle developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai.
- It was developed under the Samudrayaan mission to facilitate humans in the deep ocean in exploring mineral resources.
