One-step synthesis of nano-porous monolithic polyimide aerogel

A facile one-step method for synthesis of a porous monolithic polyimide aerogel was successfully developed. The specific thermal curing, slow desiccating process and swelling method were used in synthesizing monolithic polyimide aerogel without any additional chemical reaction to create a connected structure among the polyimide-based spherical aerogel microparticles. Using this method, the monolithic polyimide aerogel can be easily fabricated whilst using no additional chemicals for crosslinking. This type of polyimide aerogel was produced homogeneously by the polyimidization of pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) and 4,4′-oxydianiline (ODA). The synthesized porous monolithic polyimide aerogel has many good properties which could be used in various industries, as it maintained a high thermal decomposition temperature (10% weight decomposition temperature: Td10%) of approximately 577 °C and a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 432 °C, with bulk density of 490.7 kg/m3, porosity of approximately 45% and average pore size of 4 nm (by nitrogen adsorption test) of polymer and 157 nm (by mercury intrusion method) of space observed in FE-SEM image. Also, the monolithic polyimide aerogel had an excellent oil-adsorbing capacity of 150%, and the adsorbed oil could be separated easily using a simple drying process. The dried monolithic polyimide aerogel showed significant recoverability and reusability of adsorbed oil. In addition, the monolithic polyimide aerogel exhibited high mechanical resistance such that the structure can withstand a high pressure greater than 122.3 kPa, under which the monolithic polyimide aerogel (MPA) was compressed but did not break. This type of MPA shows excellent thermal, mechanical properties and great processability, and could be the new candidate for high performance materials in various industries, especially catalyst field.