Science Daily October 3, 2022
Researchers in Hong Kong have developed new type of polymer aerogel material involving self-assembled 3D networks of aramid nanofiber composites with high nodal connectivity and strong crosslinking between fibrils. Theoretical simulations of 3D networks revealed that these features at fibrillar joints may lead to an enhancement of macroscopic mechanical properties by orders of magnitude even with a constant level of solid content. They verified that polymeric aerogels achieved both high specific tensile modulus and fracture energy which are advantageous for diverse structural applications. According to the researchers the fabrication process is simple, the material can be used to fabricate various functional devices, such as wearable electronics, thermal stealth, and filtration membranes. It may also lead to further opportunities for materials design and technological innovation…read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Design and architecture. Credit: Nature Communications volume 13, Article number: 4242 (2022)Â