A method of creating hydrocolloid beads includes forcing a hydrocolloid gel suspension through a plurality of nozzles, wherefrom the hydrocolloid gel forms into a plurality of gel drops and fall into a reactant bath. The drops are exposed to the reactant bath for a predetermined period of time, wherein the drops form firm or semi-firm beads as they remain in the reactant bath. The firm or semi-firm beads are removed from the reactant bath, rinsed, and dried.

This application features a method of forming a nanoporous layer. The method includes steps of dispensing on a substrate a colloid composition comprising a liquid and a number of nanoparticle clusters, and subjecting the dispensed colloid composition to drying to form the nanoporous layer over the substrate. The nanoporous layer includes nanoparticles deposited to form a three dimensional network of irregularly shaped bodies. The nanoporous layer also includes a three dimensional network of irregularly shaped spaces that are not occupied by the three dimensional network of irregularly shaped bodies.

The present invention relates to a combustion additive comprising a colloidal solution containing dispersed fine metal particles. The present invention also relates to a method for producing the colloid. More particularly the present teaching relates to a combustion additive having a colloid, wherein the colloid comprises metal particles providing in an alkaline aqueous solution, the metal particles being dispersed within that solution and having an average diameter in the range of 30 nm to 30 μm. The colloid can partly/fully substitute water of a water injection system or used as an air humidification component for combustion.

An aerogel and drying method, the aerogel having a larger size, good productivity, and high transparency. The aerogel has a silsesquioxane structure and exhibits two exothermic peaks observed in a temperature range of 300 to 600° C. as measured by TG-DTA (thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis) under an inert gas atmosphere containing 80% by volume of an inert gas and 20% by volume of oxygen. A method for producing aerogel includes a drying step including a first step in which an aerogel which has undergone condensation of a hydrolysate is placed in a liquid phase system having a first liquid phase and a second liquid phase; a second step in which a first solvent constituting the first liquid phase is evaporated from the first liquid phase at a temperature greater than room temperature; and a third step in which heating is still continued after the first liquid phase is evaporated off.

A process of creating an aerosol includes coating at least one of a pair of counter-rotating, adjacent rollers with a fluid, the pair of counter-rotating rollers defining a nip therebetween, rotating the counter-rotating rollers to cause the fluid to be drawn into an upstream side of the nip, causing fluid filaments of the fluid to form on a downstream side of the nip, the fluid filaments stretching between respective surfaces of the pair of counter-rotating rollers and breaking into droplets on the downstream side of the nip, and harvesting the droplets at the downstream side of the nip.

An insulating fluid system includes an acidic nanosilica dispersion and an alkaline activator. The acidic nanosilica dispersion includes silica nanoparticles and a stabilizer, such as a carboxylic acid. The alkaline activator includes an alkanolamine, such as a monoalkanolamine. A mixture of the acidic nanosilica dispersion and the alkaline activator forms an insulating fluid having a pH greater than 7 and less than or equal to 12, and the insulating fluid forms an insulating gel when heated to a temperature in a range between 100° F. and 300° F. The insulating gel may be formed in an annulus between an inner conduit and an outer conduit. The inner and outer conduits may be positioned in a subterranean formation. Forming an insulating gel may include combining the acidic nanosilica dispersion with the alkaline activator to yield the insulating fluid, and heating the insulating fluid to form the insulating gel.

Novel composite materials and their methods of preparation comprising a crosslinked biodegradable polymer and non-crosslinked biodegradable polymers are disclosed. The composite materials can be formed into injectable compositions comprising composite microparticles or microspheres. The non-crosslinked biodegradable polymer in the composite material is synthesized or precipitated in situ inside the particle. The non-crosslinked biodegradable polymer in the composite may be liquid, low melting solid or polymer with thermosensitive or pH sensitive gelation properties. Also disclosed are injectable compositions comprising microparticles or microspheres for controlled drug delivery wherein such particles are delivered using organic solvents. Also disclosed are methods and compositions for making two or more layered particles for medical and industrial use.

Novel composite materials and their methods of preparation comprising a crosslinked biodegradable polymer and non-crosslinked biodegradable polymers are disclosed. The composite materials can be formed into injectable compositions comprising composite microparticles or microspheres. The non-crosslinked biodegradable polymer in the composite material is synthesized or precipitated in situ inside the particle. The non-crosslinked biodegradable polymer in the composite may be liquid, low melting solid or polymer with thermosensitive or pH sensitive gelation properties. Also disclosed are injectable compositions comprising microparticles or microspheres for controlled drug delivery wherein such particles are delivered using organic solvents. Also disclosed are methods and compositions for making two or more layered particles for medical and industrial use.

The invention relates to insulating composite materials comprising an inorganic aerogel and a melamine foam. The invention also relates to the production method of said materials, and to the use of same.

The production method includes a drying step of drying a particulate crosslinked hydrogel polymer obtained by polymerizing a monomer, which is a material of a water-absorbent resin, using a heating device to obtain dried particles. The heating device includes: a rotary container that contains the particulate crosslinked hydrogel polymer therein and rotates; and a plurality of heating tubes that are located within the rotary container, extend in an axial direction of the rotary container, and rotate together with the rotary container. A gel temperature of the particulate crosslinked hydrogel polymer to be subjected to the drying step, the gel temperature being measured by a contact thermometer, is not lower than 50° C.