Nowadays, aerogels are becoming one of the most promising materials owing to their combination of exceptional properties. Their low densities, huge surface areas, low speed of sound and insulation performance make them suitable for a wide range of applications in several sectors [1],[2]. Nevertheless, most research is focused on silica aerogels, having a relevant drawback: their brittleness and lack of stiffness. Therefore, aerogels composed by other matrixes are being actively searched for.

In this work, organic aerogels based on polyisocyanurate-polyurethane have been synthesized and characterized in detail [3]. These aerogels showed tailorable structures and, thus, properties through changes in the catalyst concentration. By the study of the structure-properties relationship, the influence of the different structural parameters (particles and pores) on the different properties was assessed. The obtention of polyurethane aerogels showing transparency for the very first time, while presenting tunable mechanical properties and superinsulation was achieved (see Figure 1). Thermal conductivity values as low as 12 mW/mK for densities around 160 kg/m3 were reached, much lower than the conventional thermal insulators, opening a broad spectrum of potential applications in the building sector such as glazing windows, automotive and aeronautical sectors, or even for energy management.