Chapter 13: Applications of Aerogels in Aerospace and Packaging

Polysaccharides and proteins are regarded as the key ingredients for the production of bio-based materials in life sciences (e.g. food, cosmetics, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, aerospace materials, and packaging, etc.). The biodegradability and biocompatibility of these biopolymers, coupled to the large variety of chemical functionalities they encompass, make them promising candidates for aerospace and packaging applications. Case studies on polysaccharide-based aerogels from several sources and our own results, as well as their behaviour regarding packaging and aerospace applications, are described. This chapter focuses on the state of the art of the evolution of aerogels in general, with an emphasis on their functions and significance in previous astronautical applications. Future outer-space applications have been proposed in line with the current research trend.