Nylon Aerogel

Thermoplastic Processing

Nanoporous nylon aerogels prepared via solubility-pKa coupling effect, combining high surface area, high compressive modulus, and ultralow thermal conductivity with unique thermoplastic processability for thermal encapsulation, cutting/welding, and imprinting.

Chen, Jian · Li, Lishan · Zhang, Afang · Zhang, Xuetong

Advanced Materials 2025

Specifications

Specific surface area

{'zh': '226', 'en': '226'} m² g⁻¹

Compressive modulus

{'zh': '12.6', 'en': '12.6'} MPa

Thermal conductivity

{'zh': '0.034', 'en': '0.034'} W m⁻¹ K⁻¹

Advantages

Reprocessable

The aerogel is thermoplastic and can be repeatedly heated and shaped for encapsulation, cutting/welding, and imprinting while retaining its properties.

High modulus

Compressive modulus of 12.6 MPa is comparable to aramid and other high-performance aerogels, enabling load-bearing insulation applications.

Ultralow k

Thermal conductivity is only 0.034 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹, providing excellent thermal insulation.

Applications

• Thermal insulation and protection：Ultralow conductivity plus thermal encapsulation enables insulation and protection for electronics or batteries.
• Lightweight structures for UAVs：Thermal cutting and welding allow reassembly into lightweight UAV structural parts.
• Biomimetic surface engineering：Precise thermal imprinting creates lotus- or petal-effect hydrophobic microstructures on aerogel surfaces.