Environmentally Sustainable Polyarylate Nanofiber Aerogels with Superior Thermal, Acoustic, and Electromagnetic Insulation Properties

Polyarylate nanofiber aerogels (PAR NFAs) offer superior thermal insulation, acoustic attenuation, electromagnetic transparency, and recyclability, addressing limitations associated with traditional aramid aerogels. Leveraging the oriented liquid-crystal state and thermoplastic nature of polyarylate, PAR NFAs were fabricated via streamlined processing and adhesive-free thermal welding. Experimental results demonstrate exceptionally low thermal conductivity (0.027 W/mK), significantly outperforming commercial rubber (0.0817 W/mK) and PU foams (0.102 W/mK). In thermal insulation tests, PAR NFAs achieved a 49.6 °C temperature difference in 60 s, surpassing rubber (37.2 °C) and PU foams (23 °C). Additionally, the aerogels exhibited enhanced acoustic performance with a noise reduction coefficient (0.317) surpassing both commercial alternatives. They also maintained outstanding electromagnetic transparency within 1.6–10 GHz. Remarkably, PAR NFAs can be sustainably recycled through mechanical dissociation or melt reprocessing, presenting substantial promise for advanced aerospace, thermal management, acoustic insulation, and stealth applications.