Novel insulation materials with low thermal conductivity, low density, and stability over a wide temperature range are needed in aerospace applications such as inflatable structures for entry, descent and landing operations, extra-vehicular activity suits and cryotank insulation. Highly porous polyimide aerogels have recently been demonstrated as enabling materials for these applications, combining low density and low thermal conductivity with good mechanical properties. Recently, a lot of attention has been focused on cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) as nanofillers due to their biorenewability. More importantly, incorporation of CNCs in various types of polymer nanocomposites greatly enhances the mechanical properties due to the ability of the crystals to form a percolating network in a matrix which allows stress transfer. This study explores the enhancement of the mechanical properties of polyimide aerogels using CNCs as fillers. A series of polyimide aerogel nanocomposites were synthesized with different weight percent CNCs and we investigated the stiffness, thermal stability and modulus of these materials.

Polyimide cellulose nanocrystal composite aerogels

248th National Meeting (2014)

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