UiO-66-NH2 Uniformly Loaded Fiber-Reinforced Polyimide Multifunctional Aerogel Composite for Chemical and Physical Protection

Abstract

In recent years, flexible Zr-MOF-based composite materials have gained attention for chemical warfare agent (CWA) protection. However, in the complex environments of battlefields and disasters, in addition to the required CWA protection functionality, these materials must also possess physical protective properties, such as flame retardancy, thermal insulation, and breathability. Traditional Zr-MOF-loaded substrates, such as fibers, polyester films, and foams, face limitations like a low surface area, porosity, and poor breathability, hindering their multifunctional protection potential. Therefore, how to achieve a combination of chemical and physical protection remains a challenge. This study presents a multifunctional aerogel composite fabricated via electrospinning, freeze-drying, thermal cross-linking, and low-temperature solvothermal methods using a prepreg seed. The composite exhibits self-disinfection, flame retardation, heat insulation, comfort, and air/moisture permeability with a porous three-dimensional fiber network. It has a high MOF loading rate of 55.6%, achieving CEES and DMNP degradation rates of 98.5 and 99.3%, respectively, along with excellent chemical stability and reusability. Furthermore, the composite demonstrates strong mechanical properties (with a tensile stress reaching 223.4 kPa and a compressive stress of up to 318.5 kPa at 60% strain), along with flame retardancy, thermal insulation, breathability, moisture permeability, and comfort. The successful fabrication of this aerogel composite is valuable for the development of multifunctional protective materials that integrate both chemical and physical protection.