Abstract: An aerogel and method of making the aerogel is disclosed. The aerogel is a polyimide/polyamide hybrid with a cross-linking agent that induces gelation.

Abstract: Processes and precursors may be used to produce a highly porous, extremely large surface area polyimide aerogel with optical translucency and diminished heat transfer. The resulting material maintains or exceeds structural integrity and low thermal conductivity seen in the high opacity polyimide aerogels of similar porosity and density. The formulations used for fabrication of aerogels may include combinations of fluorinated dianhydride and diamine fractions and non-fluorinated dianhydrides and diamines with various aliphatic and aromatic bridgehead components as precursors to the condensation polymerization of polyimide aerogels with polyamide crosslinks.

Abstract: Polyamide aerogels and methods of making the same are discussed. One example method can include the act of creating a mixture of at least one diamine with at least one diacid chloride in a first solvent. The mixture can comprise a plurality of amine capped polyamide oligomers. Such a method can also include the acts of adding a cross-linking agent to the mixture to create a gel and performing one or more solvent exchanges to remove the first solvent. Additionally, such a method can include the act of subjecting the gel to supercritical drying to polyamide aerogel.

Abstract: A polyimide aerogel and method of making the aerogel is disclosed. The polymer backbone of the aerogel includes a cardo-diamine. The disclosed polyimide aerogel is less susceptible to temperature induced shrinkage than a polyimide aerogel that does not include a cardo-diamine.

Abstract: Systems and methods for lightweight, customizable antenna with improved performance and mechanical properties are disclosed. In some aspects, aerogels can be used, for example, as a substrate for antenna fabrication. The reduced weight and expense, as well as the increased ability to adapt antenna designs, permits a systems to mitigate a variety of burdens associated with antennas while providing added benefits.

Abstract: Porous cross-linked partially aliphatic polyimide networks are provided. The polyimide networks comprise a polyamic acid oligomer that (i) comprises a repeating unit of a dianhydride and a diamine and terminal functional groups, (ii) has an average degree of polymerization of 10 to 70, (iii) has been cross-linked via a cross-linking agent, comprising three or more cross-linking groups, at a balanced stoichiometry of the cross-linking groups to the terminal functional groups, and (iv) has been chemically imidized to yield the porous cross-linked polyimide network. The polyimide networks are partially aliphatic based on (a) the diamine comprising a first diamine and a second diamine, wherein the first diamine comprises a linear aliphatic backbone chain, and the second diamine does not, and/or (b) the dianhydride comprising a first dianhydride and a second dianhydride, wherein the first dianhydride comprises a linear aliphatic backbone chain, and the second dianhydride does not.

Abstract: An aerogel and process of making the aerogel is provided. The aerogel is a polyimide aerogel having polyamide cross-links formed using a triacid chloride cross-linker.

Abstract: Porous cross-linked partially aliphatic polyimide networks are provided. The polyimide networks comprise a polyamic acid oligomer that (i) comprises a repeating unit of a dianhydride and a diamine and terminal functional groups, (ii) has an average degree of polymerization of 10 to 70, (iii) has been cross-linked via a cross-linking agent, comprising three or more cross-linking groups, at a balanced stoichiometry of the cross-linking groups to the terminal functional groups, and (iv) has been chemically imidized to yield the porous cross-linked polyimide network. The polyimide networks are partially aliphatic based on (a) the diamine comprising a first diamine and a second diamine, wherein the first diamine comprises a linear aliphatic backbone chain, and the second diamine does not, and/or (b) the dianhydride comprising a first dianhydride and a second dianhydride, wherein the first dianhydride comprises a linear aliphatic backbone chain, and the second dianhydride does not.

Abstract: A polyamide aerogel and method of making the same is disclosed. The aerogel includes para-substituted monomers without a cross-linking agent.

Abstract: Polyimide-network battery-separator compositions are disclosed. The polyimide-network battery-separator compositions comprise a porous cross-linked polyimide network comprising a polyamic acid oligomer. The polyamic acid oligomer (i) comprises a repeating unit of a dianhydride and a diamine and terminal functional groups, (ii) has an average degree of polymerization of 10 to 70, (iii) has been cross-linked via a cross-linking agent, comprising three or more cross-linking groups, at a balanced stoichiometry of the cross-linking groups to the terminal functional groups, and (iv) has been chemically imidized to yield the porous cross-linked polyimide network. The polyimide-network battery-separator compositions also comprise an electrolyte composition comprising (i) a room temperature ionic liquid and (ii) a lithium ion. The electrolyte composition is interfused within the porous cross-linked polyimide network. Polyim ide-urea-network battery-separator compositions also are disclosed.

Abstract: An aerogel and method of making the aerogel is disclosed. The aerogel is a polyimide/polyamide hybrid with a cross-linking agent that induces gelation.

Abstract: Polyamide aerogels and methods of making the same are discussed. One example method can include the act of creating a mixture of at least one diamine with at least one diacid chloride in a first solvent. The mixture can comprise a plurality of amine capped polyamide oligomers. Such a method can also include the acts of adding a cross-linking agent to the mixture to create a gel and performing one or more solvent exchanges to remove the first solvent. Additionally, such a method can include the act of subjecting the gel to supercritical drying to polyamide aerogel.

Abstract: An aerogel and process of making the aerogel are provided. The aerogel is a polyimide aerogel having polyamide cross-links formed using a poly(maleic anhydride) cross-linker.

Abstract: An aerogel and process of making the aerogel is provided. The aerogel is a polyimide aerogel having polyamide cross-links formed using a triacid chloride cross-linker.

Abstract: One-pot reaction process for preparing epoxy-reinforced monolithic silica aerogels comprising the reaction of at least one silicon compound selected from the group consisting of alkoxysilanes, orthosilicates and combination thereof in any ratio with effective amounts of an epoxy monomer and an aminoalkoxy silane to obtain an epoxy monomer-silica sol in solution, subsequently preparing an epoxy-monomer silica gel from said silica sol solution followed by initiating polymerization of the epoxy monomer to obtain the epoxy-reinforced monolithic silica aerogel.

Abstract: A method for creating a three dimensional cross-linked polyimide structure includes dissolving a diamine, a dianhydride, and a triamine in a solvent, imidizing a polyamic acid gel by heating the gel, extracting the gel in a second solvent, supercritically drying the gel, and removing the solvent to create a polyimide aerogel.

Abstract: Robust, flexible, lightweight, low profile enhanced performance dielectric barrier discharge actuators (plasma actuators) based on aerogels/nanofoams with controlled pore size and size distribution as well as pore shape. The plasma actuators offer high body force as well as high force to weight ratios (thrust density). The flexibility and mechanical robustness of the actuators allows them to be shaped to conform to the surface to which they are applied. Carbon nanotube (CNT) based electrodes serve to further decrease the weight and profile of the actuators while maintaining flexibility while insulating nano-inclusions in the matrix enable tailoring of the mechanical properties. Such actuators are required for flow control in aeronautics and moving machinery such as wind turbines, noise abatement in landing gear and rotary wing aircraft and other applications.

Abstract: Porous cross-linked polyimide networks are provided. The networks comprise an anhydride end-capped polyamic acid oligomer. The oligomer (i) comprises a repeating unit of a dianhydride and a diamine and terminal anhydride groups, (ii) has an average degree of polymerization of 10 to 50, (iii) has been cross-linked via a cross-linking agent, comprising three or more amine groups, at a balanced stoichiometry of the amine groups to the terminal anhydride groups, and (iv) has been chemically imidized to yield the porous cross-linked polyimide network. Also provided are porous cross-linked polyimide aerogels comprising a cross-linked and imidized anhydride end-capped polyamic acid oligomer, wherein the oligomer comprises a repeating unit of a dianhydride and a diamine, and the aerogel has a density of 0.10 to 0.333 g/cm3 and a Young's modulus of 1.7 to 102 MPa. Also provided are thin films comprising aerogels, and methods of making porous cross-linked polyimide networks.

Abstract: Robust, flexible, lightweight, low profile enhanced performance dielectric barrier discharge actuators (plasma actuators) based on aerogels/nanofoams with controlled pore size and size distribution as well as pore shape. The plasma actuators offer high body force as well as high force to weight ratios (thrust density). The flexibility and mechanical robustness of the actuators allows them to be shaped to conform to the surface to which they are applied. Carbon nanotube (CNT) based electrodes serve to further decrease the weight and profile of the actuators while maintaining flexibility while insulating nano-inclusions in the matrix enable tailoring of the mechanical properties. Such actuators are required for flow control in aeronautics and moving machinery such as wind turbines, noise abatement in landing gear and rotary wing aircraft and other applications.

Abstract: Porous cross-linked polyimide-urea networks are provided. The networks comprise a subunit comprising two anhydride end-capped polyamic acid oligomers in direct connection via a urea linkage. The oligomers (a) each comprise a repeating unit of a dianhydride and a diamine and a terminal anhydride group and (b) are formulated with 2 to 15 of the repeating units. The subunit was formed by reaction of the diamine and a diisocyanate to form a diamine-urea linkage-diamine group, followed by reaction of the diamine-urea linkage-diamine group with the dianhydride and the diamine to form the subunit. The subunit has been cross-linked via a cross-linking agent, comprising three or more amine groups, at a balanced stoichiometry of the amine groups to the terminal anhydride groups. The subunit has been chemically imidized to yield the porous cross-linked polyimide-urea network. Also provided are wet gels, aerogels, and thin films comprising the networks, and methods of making the networks.