Aerogels are low density solids with very interesting properties due to their small, open porosity and high internal surface areas.  NASA has been exploring their use as insulation for extreme environments such as entry, descent and landing applications, or Mars surface missions for more than a decade.  Because silica aerogels are so fragile, application has been limited to a few projects, including insulation of the electronics and batteries on Mars Rovers or use as a cosmic dust collector in the Stardust program.  We have been working on strategies to improve the mechanical properties of aerogels without impacting their lightweight, low density, insulation capabilities, etc. to expand their use.  In this regard, polyimide aerogels have been demonstrated to have higher stiffness and greater durability than silica aerogels and can be made in thin film form for use as flexible insulation layers for any number of applications, including space suits, inflatable decelerators for entry descent and landing, or inflatable habitats.  In addition to insulation, the polyimide aerogels have extremely low dielectric constants, making them useful as a low dielectric substrate for antennas and other electronics.  We have also begun exploring other polymers, such as polyamide to make aerogels.  These have many properties similar to polyimide but can be made at lower cost, making them attractive for more earth-based applications such as housing and construction, protective clothing, pipeline insulation and more.  These topics and others will be discussed.

Recent advances in design of polymer aerogels for aerospace applications

248th National Meeting (2014)

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