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Varying Synthesis Parameters of Potato Starch Aerogel for Aerospace Applications
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Researchers optimized synthesis parameters for potato starch aerogels — lightweight, biodegradable alternatives to fragile silica or toxic-solvent-based polymer aerogels — finding that adjustments to starch concentration, crosslinking, and drying conditions produced materials with properties potentially suitable for aerospace insulation applications.
Aerogels have the potential for usage in many daily and high-tech aerospace applications. Silica aerogels are fragile, while organic aerogels are much tougher, but they are both generally synthesized using toxic solvents. Biodegradable aerogels, if they possess similar properties as polymer aerogels, could be widely utilized in many aerospace applications and offer environmental benefits. In this work, potato starch aerogels were systematically studied. The potato starch concentration, the amount of plasticizer (glycerol), and an acid source (acetic acid) were varied. The relationship of the precursors on potato starch aerogel's properties, such as density, shrinkage, porosity, BET surface area, mechanical properties, and thermal conductivities, were researched. The resulting potato starch aerogels possess suitable density, Young's modulus, and thermal conductivity for use in many aerospace applications.
More Papers Like This
Varying Synthesis Parameters on Potato Starch Aerogel for Aerospace Applications
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Researchers systematically studied potato starch aerogels as biodegradable alternatives to toxic-solvent polymer aerogels for aerospace applications, varying starch concentration, glycerol plasticizer, and acetic acid content. The resulting aerogels achieved suitable density, Young's modulus, and thermal conductivity, demonstrating that sustainable biopolymer aerogels can meet aerospace performance requirements.
Applications of multifunctional bio-based aerogels in food packaging: A review
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This review rounds up research on plant-based "aerogels" — super lightweight, spongy materials made from renewable sources — as a promising eco-friendly swap for plastic food packaging. These materials can cushion food, actively keep it fresher longer, and even change color to signal spoilage, all while being biodegradable, which means less plastic waste and potentially less plastic residue leaching into your food over time. That said, the technology still needs cheaper, large-scale manufacturing methods before it shows up on grocery store shelves.
Environmentally Friendly 3D Cellulose Aerogels for Solar Steam Generation and Versatile Environmental Applications
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Researchers developed eco-friendly 3D cellulose aerogels that simultaneously enable solar-driven water evaporation and rapid microplastic adsorption at 335.6 mg/g, with a beeswax-modified variant achieving over 99% oil separation efficiency—all from renewable materials that maintain performance across multiple reuse cycles. This multifunctional, sustainable material addresses three major water quality threats—scarcity, microplastic contamination, and oil spills—offering a scalable green alternative to synthetic adsorbents.
Preparation of nanocellulose aerogel and its adsorption properties: a review
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This review systematically covers preparation techniques for nanocellulose aerogels — highly porous, biodegradable materials derived from cellulose — and catalogues their adsorption performance for dye removal, heavy metal capture, oil-water separation, and microplastic removal from water. Nanocellulose aerogels represent a promising sustainable sorbent technology for removing microplastics from contaminated water, leveraging renewable materials rather than synthetic polymer-based sorbents.
Preparation and Characterization of Potato Peel Starch-Based Bioplastic Using Different Starch and Gelatin Concentrations
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Scientists turned potato peels — normally kitchen waste — into a biodegradable plastic-like material by mixing potato starch with gelatin, testing different amounts of each. They found that using more starch and gelatin created a sturdier, less water-absorbent film, suggesting this waste-based bioplastic could one day replace some conventional plastic packaging. Since traditional plastics break down into microplastics that end up in our food and water, developing biodegradable alternatives like this one matters for reducing our long-term exposure to plastic pollution.
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