Fabrication of hydrophobic, mechanically flexible and optically transparent polyimide aerogels

US12365764B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Governing Council of the University of Toronto · CA

Inventors

• Hani E. Naguib · Ottawa, CA
• Omid Aghababaei Tafreshi · Toronto, CA
• Shahriar Ghaffari-Mosanenzadeh · North York, CA
• Zia Saadatnia · North York, CA

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 8, 2023
• Grant date: Jul 22, 2025
• Expiry date: Sep 8, 2043

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C08J2379/08
• WIPO field: Macromolecular chemistry, polymers
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method of fabrication of physically crosslinked polyimide (PCPI) aerogels with significantly improved properties using no chemical crosslinker. The fabricated PCPI aerogels present high moisture resistance, hydrophobic behavior, ultralow density, ultrahigh porosity, excellent thermal stability, increased mechanical strength, and high mechanical flexibility. Also, samples have been successfully fabricated in a thin-film geometry with high mechanical flexibility and controlled thickness. Furthermore, some fabricated aerogel films present improved optical transparency of over 80%, which is the highest transparency reported so far for organic PI aerogels.