Rapid and facile synthesis of a low-cost monolithic polyamide aerogel via sol–gel technology

We report the first synthesis of a good-formability polyamide aerogel using melamine and isophthaloyl chloride via sol–gel technology followed by carbon dioxide supercritical drying. The chemistry employed is straightforward and simple, relying on no catalysts and no nitrogen-based protective atmosphere. The influence of an important factor, temperature, on the aerogels’ structure is briefly discussed and the optimal temperature is 75°C. The aerogels’ structural properties are characterized by the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), the high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller methods (BET). The results indicate that the aerogel has a typical three-dimensional porous structure with pore diameter about 20nm and the specific surface area can be as high as 282m2/g. Due to the good flame resistance of melamine, the aerogel has potential for use in fireproofing building materials.