Fabrication of cross-linked polysulfone aerogels for thermal insulation

The innovative aerogel obtained by introducing bisphenol A-type polysulfone (PSF) as a precursor has excellent stability and can meet the need for thermal insulation at higher temperatures. In this study, PSF was modified by chloromethylation in a simple one-step process, and then PSF aerogels with tunable structural properties were tailored by changing the degree of chloromethyl and types of amino crosslinkers. This is the first report of the introduction of PSF into the aerogel field as far as we know. The density and volume shrinkage of the obtained aerogels were as low as 46.7 mg/cm3 and 21.3%, respectively. Compared with aerogels made with triethylenetetramine as the cross-linking agent, aerogels obtained with polyetheramine D230 exhibited better structural stability, higher specific surface area and lower thermal conductivity (down to 0.036 W/mK), which was more favorable for the thermal insulating ability of the aerogel. These findings provide a new design idea for the selection of precursors for polymer-based aerogels.