Syntactic Foam
Lighter and stronger materials for buoyancy, insulation, and protection
Matrix Composites & Engineering operates the world’s largest syntactic foam manufacturing facility and is a recognised global leader in syntactic foam design and manufacture. Originally developed for subsea buoyancy, our foams are now used across a wide range of sectors, including defence, mining, energy and infrastructure.
Syntactic foam is a lightweight, high-strength composite material formed by embedding hollow microspheres in a polymer resin matrix. These microspheres may range from microscopic glass bubbles (Ø20–80 μm) to larger composite or moulded macrospheres (Ø3–50 mm). The result is a material that offers exceptional compressive strength at very low densities, with excellent thermal and acoustic performance.
Matrix formulates both two-phase syntactics, which use only microspheres, and three-phase syntactics, which combine micro- and macrospheres for even lower densities and tailored performance. Epoxy resins are used for binding, though alternative systems like phenolic and PVC are applied depending on the required insulation, stiffness, or fire-resistance characteristics.
These materials are engineered for long-term service in extreme environments — offering reliable buoyancy, insulation, impact protection, and shock isolation across a 40+ year design life.
Matrix syntactic foams deliver ultra-lightweight strength, thermal insulation, and acoustic control — ideal for buoyancy, impact protection and long-term performance in extreme environments.
KEY BENEFITS
High Strength at Low Density
Delivers uplift performance in water depths beyond 4,000m.
Long-term Material Stability
Proven in applications that assume a 40-year design life
Thermal and Cryogenic Insulation
Ideal for LNG and deep-sea temperature environments.
Impact Absorption
Protects infrastructure from dropped objects and collision forces.
Excellent Acoustic Properties
Microsphere structure can be adjusted to suit sonar or sound dampening requirements
Shock Resistance
Acts as an impedance barrier for blast mitigation or vibration isolation.
Impact Absorption
Protects infrastructure from dropped objects and collision forces.
Excellent Acoustic Properties
Microsphere structure can be adjusted to suit sonar or sound dampening requirements
Shock Resistance
Acts as an impedance barrier for blast mitigation or vibration isolation.
High Strength at Low Density
Delivers uplift performance in water depths beyond 4,000m.
Long-term Material Stability
Proven in applications that assume a 40-year design life
Thermal and Cryogenic Insulation
Ideal for LNG and deep-sea temperature environments.
Impact Absorption
Protects infrastructure from dropped objects and collision forces.
Excellent Acoustic Properties
Microsphere structure can be adjusted to suit sonar or sound dampening requirements
Shock Resistance
Acts as an impedance barrier for blast mitigation or vibration isolation.
APPLICATIONS
Matrix syntactic foam is used across a wide range of subsea and industrial environments:
- Deep sea buoyancy for risers, pipelines, ROVs, AUVs, and subsea modules.
- Cryogenic insulation for LNG pipelines and process systems.
- Impact protection to mitigate damage from dropped objects in offshore or industrial sites.
- Tuned acoustic panels to support signal clarity in defence or marine systems.
- Blast and shock isolation to absorb energy and deflect pressure from explosive events.
- Lightweight concrete for civil infrastructure to reduce structural weight without compromising strength.