Upgraded recycling of polycarbonate to prepare waterproof aerogels towards external thermal insulation

Aerogels hold great promise for various applications. However, conventional aerogels exhibit low hydrophobicity, making them prone to moisture absorption in humid environments, which adversely affects their thermal insulation and mechanical performance. In this study, we introduce an innovative approach to solve this problem by utilizing polycarbonate waste as raw materials to fabricate waterproof aerogels towards external thermal insulation. The incorporation of DOPO-MMT not only accelerates gelation and enhances mechanical strength but also imparts self-extinguishing behavior during combustion. The obtained aerogel possesses a super high static contact angle exceeding 160°, which enables the aerogel to maintain a stable thermal conductivity of 0.039 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ even after a 7-day immersion in water. Notably, the aerogel retains its hydrophobicity under harsh conditions, including exposure to strong acids and bases. This approach of using waste materials to manufacture aerogels demonstrates the potential of recycled materials in the development of high-performance materials, offering a new technological pathway to address plastic pollution and enhance industrial energy efficiency. This method provides promising application prospects for future insulation materials, particularly suitable for fields such as construction, aerospace, and automotive industries, where high demands are placed on waterproofing, flame retardancy, and mechanical performance.