Recyclable Polymer Aerogel for Low-Leakage Phase-Change Cold Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing polymer aerogel preparation methods are environmentally polluting due to the use of organic solvents and are difficult to recycle, and organic phase-change materials face leakage issues and lack recyclability, limiting their industrial application.
Innovation Solution
A recyclable polymer aerogel is prepared using a copolymer containing maleic anhydride and maleimide groups, which can be dissolved in aqueous ammonia for recycling, eliminating the need for organic solvents and enabling high recyclability, and a recyclable cold-storage phase-change composite material is developed with real-time temperature monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If polymer aerogel is prepared using conventional sol-gel method or phase separation method, then aerogel product can be obtained with desired properties, but the preparation process causes environmental pollution and the product is difficult to recycle
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the polymer by introducing maleimide groups that can reversibly react with maleic anhydride. This allows the aerogel to transition between crosslinked (water-resistant) and uncrosslinked (recyclable) states, resolving the contradiction between product stability and recyclability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables recovery of the aerogel material through dissolution in aqueous ammonia. The maleimide-maleic anhydride reversible reaction allows the crosslinked structure to be broken down and recovered, eliminating permanent waste and enabling circular economy in aerogel application
2Stability of the object's composition
If crosslinking and hydrophobic treatment are applied to polymer aerogel, then water resistance is improved, but recyclability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a dynamic system where the crosslinking density can be adjusted on demand. The maleimide-maleic anhydride reaction is reversible, allowing the aerogel to dynamically switch between water-resistant crosslinked state and recyclable uncrosslinked state, rather than being fixed in one state
Solution Approach 2:
The maleimide group acts as an intermediary that mediates between water resistance and recyclability. It forms temporary crosslinks with maleic anhydride to provide water resistance, but can be easily broken by aqueous ammonia to enable recycling, serving as a controllable bridge between contradictory requirements
3Ease of operation
If organic solvents are used in aerogel preparation and recycling, then processing is facilitated, but environmental pollution increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces expensive and harmful organic solvents with cheap and environmentally friendly aqueous ammonia. The aqueous system is less harmful and can be easily disposed of or recycled, eliminating the need for complex solvent recovery systems while maintaining processing effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The invention substitutes chemical mechanisms - using aqueous ammonia-based chemistry instead of organic solvent-based chemistry. The reversible maleimide-maleic anhydride reaction in aqueous medium replaces organic solvent extraction and processing, eliminating hydrophobic treatment steps and reducing environmental impact
4Quantity of substance
If organic phase-change materials are used for cold storage, then energy storage capacity is improved, but leakage risk and lack of recyclability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The aerogel forms a flexible porous matrix that physically confines the phase-change material. The three-dimensional network structure acts as a containment shell that prevents leakage while allowing thermal energy transfer, solving the leakage problem of organic phase-change materials
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite material system combining aerogel matrix with phase-change material. The aerogel provides structural integrity, leakage prevention, and thermal insulation, while the phase-change material provides energy storage capacity, achieving synergistic functionality that neither material could provide alone
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The aerogel achieves high recyclability (>99%) with low energy consumption and no environmental impact, and the composite material provides effective cold storage with low leakage and real-time temperature monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
passive refrigeration methods with cold-storage boxes and phase-change materials can use nighttime 'trough' electrical energy or green electrical energy such as solar energy to store cold
Implementation Method 2
Phase-change materials have a high energy storage density and provide a compact and feasible solution to the problem of imbalance in supply and demand
Implementation Method 3
The polymer aerogel is prepared by freeze-drying a polymer aqueous solution
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to the field of porous materials, and particularly relates to a recyclable polymer aerogel, a preparation method therefor, a recovery method therefor, and a use thereof; and a recyclable cold-storage phase-change composite material containing the recyclable polymer aerogel, a recyclable cold-storage phase-change material having a real-time temperature monitoring function, a preparation method therefor, and a use thereof. The polymer in the polymer aerogel comprises a maleic anhydride group-containing structural unit and a maleimide group-containing structural unit. According to the present invention, the polymer comprising a maleimide group-containing structural unit is prepared into an aerogel for the first time, and the application range of maleic anhydride-containing and maleimidecontaining copolymers is widened. In addition, the aerogel prepared in the present invention has extremely high recovery efficiency, after dissolution and recovery by aqueous ammonia, the recycle efficiency may be higher than 99%; and the aerogel preparation and recovery process does not need any organic solvent and has the characteristics of high efficiency with low energy consumption and environmental friendliness. The recyclable cold-storage phase-change composite material can be recycled, achieves less leakage, and can keep low temperature for a long period of time. The recyclable cold-storage phase-change material having a real-time temperature monitoring function has a layered structure comprising an inner layer formed by a recyclable cold-storage phase-change composite material, and an outer layer formed by a second polymer aerogel, and can achieve both large-batch temperature monitoring and recyclability.