Aerogels are lightweight, highly porous materials known for their large surface area and exceptional thermal and acoustic insulation properties. First-generation aerogels, primarily silica-based, offered excellent performance but suffered from brittleness and low mechanical flexibility. To address these issues and improve sustainability, second-generation aerogels using renewable biopolymers, such as cellulose, chitosan, and alginate, have been developed, offering biodegradability and low toxicity. However, their mechanical and thermal properties often fall short for advanced applications.
In parallel, synthetic polymer-based aerogels, such as those made from polyimide, have improved performance but are typically limited to a narrow set of polymers, excluding common plastics like polypropylene or polystyrene. My research aims to explore the fabrication of aerogels from widely used synthetic polymers, particularly plastic waste, as a strategy to enhance material sustainability and enable upcycling within a circular economy framework.
