A state-of-the-art review of polyimide foams research

Polyimide foams (PIFs), renowned as some of the best materials for excellent performance in harsh temperature environments, have been developed to meet the increasing demands of high-tech industries. A state-of-the-art review of advanced PIFs research was conducted, covering the general research profiles and trends, institutions and scholars, major journals, research categories, and application fields through a bibliometric analysis of publications.Research on polyimide-based foam has increased approximately 30-fold over the past 40 years. One hundred forty-two research institutions from 20 countries have conducted research related to PIFs. Literature co-citation analysis reveals that the knowledge base of the PIFs research field primarily focuses on chemical synthesis foaming. This spotlight on engineering applications systematically describes the synthesis mechanisms, various typical fabrication methods, and the microstructure of PIFs. The advantages and disadvantages of this methods have been compared. Representative functions and corresponding mechanism models, which include thermal, mechanical, sensing, electromagnetic, flame retardant, oil-water separation, and other fields, have been outlined. This review offers insights into the technological development prospects and opportunities. Finally, the arduous tasks and challenges of PIFs research are summarized, providing valuable guidance for researchers interested in this field.