*New High-Performance Materials: Bio-Based, Eco-Friendly Polyimides DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93340*

fading trend aura and already has the solid starting points of a long-term strategy. Based on the plethora of yet unexploited, renewable reagents available, the Holy Grail of high-performance, fully bio-based PIs is not unreachable.

At the same time, serious progress has been made in the field of nonconventional synthetic and processing platforms for the development of PI-based materials. Less harmful experimental conditions such as ionic liquids, supercritical fluids, microwaves, and geothermal-inspired setups represent workable options and further reduce the negative environmental footprint of PIs' production. While still undeveloped and with some technological limitations regarding upscale and industrial use, these methods deliver sound results and provide access to novel, impressive PI materials such as nanoparticles, foams, aerogels, and membranes.

Last, but not least, the status quo has slightly shifted from the constant investigation of the outstanding stability of PIs to the evaluation of several recycling strategies. The mechano-chemical pathway is the lead runner in the field, since it is economically favorable, more eco-friendly, and paves the way for new, interesting materials. Therefore, this represents the third valid point of departure for new research topics in the field of high-performance, bio-based PIs.
