Fiber sheets each including internal pores therein are prepared. A fibrous body including the fiber sheets is formed by stacking the fiber sheets and joining the fiber sheets to each other at joining regions. Silica xerogel is put into the internal pores of each of the fiber sheets of the fibrous body by impregnation. The put silica xerogel is hydrophobized while a space is formed between the fiber sheets in a non-joining region between the joining regions of the fibrous body. This method provides a heat-insulating device resistant to a force in surface directions and having a predetermined thickness.

Fiber sheets each including internal pores therein are prepared. A fibrous body including the fiber sheets is formed by stacking the fiber sheets and joining the fiber sheets to each other at joining regions. Silica xerogel is put into the internal pores of each of the fiber sheets of the fibrous body by impregnation. The put silica xerogel is hydrophobized while a space is formed between the fiber sheets in a non-joining region between the joining regions of the fibrous body. This method provides a heat-insulating device resistant to a force in surface directions and having a predetermined thickness.

The present invention relates to a process for producing an aerogel material based on amorphous silica, comprising the following steps:

a) preparing a mixture comprising silica sol, alcohol, and a hydrophobizing agent activatable by acid catalysis;

b1) adding a base to the mixture formed in step a) and mixing the resulting mixture;

b2) gelation of the mixture comprising silica sol obtained in step b2), resulting in the formation of a silica gel, and optional aging of the gel;

c) adding a hydrophobization catalyst to the silica gel formed in step b2) and optionally aged, in-situ formation or controlled release of a hydrophobization catalyst, and initiation of the catalyzed hydrophobization of the silica;

d) removing the volatile constituents of the mixture formed in step c) by subcritical drying, resulting in the formation of the aerogel material, wherein at least steps b2) to d) are carried out in the same reactor.

The present invention relates to a process for producing an aerogel material based on amorphous silica, comprising the following steps:

a) preparing a mixture comprising silica sol, alcohol, and a hydrophobizing agent activatable by acid catalysis;

b1) adding a base to the mixture formed in step a) and mixing the resulting mixture;

b2) gelation of the mixture comprising silica sol obtained in step b2), resulting in the formation of a silica gel, and optional aging of the gel;

c) adding a hydrophobization catalyst to the silica gel formed in step b2) and optionally aged, in-situ formation or controlled release of a hydrophobization catalyst, and initiation of the catalyzed hydrophobization of the silica;

d) removing the volatile constituents of the mixture formed in step c) by subcritical drying, resulting in the formation of the aerogel material, wherein at least steps b2) to d) are carried out in the same reactor.

A thermal insulation sheet is used that includes a fiber, a silica aerogel contained in the fiber, and a fibrous cavity. A method for manufacturing a thermal insulation sheet is used that includes: an impregnation step of impregnating a silica aerosol in a nonwoven fabric substrate containing a fiber that is insoluble in an acidic solution, and a fiber that is soluble in the acidic solution; a gelling step of gelling the silica aerosol; a hydrophobizing step of hydrophobizing the gel; and a drying step of drying the gel. The fiber that is soluble in the acidic solution is dissolved in the hydrophobizing step.

A thermal insulation sheet is used that includes a fiber, a silica aerogel contained in the fiber, and a fibrous cavity. A method for manufacturing a thermal insulation sheet is used that includes: an impregnation step of impregnating a silica aerosol in a nonwoven fabric substrate containing a fiber that is insoluble in an acidic solution, and a fiber that is soluble in the acidic solution; a gelling step of gelling the silica aerosol; a hydrophobizing step of hydrophobizing the gel; and a drying step of drying the gel. The fiber that is soluble in the acidic solution is dissolved in the hydrophobizing step.

Provided is a thermal insulator which can be prevented from having gaps. The thermal insulator includes a nonwoven fabric, and xerogel in interior spaces of the nonwoven fabric. The thermal insulator has a plurality of protrusions on a surface of the thermal insulator, a height of the protrusion ranges from 0.10t to 0.25t inclusive and a size of the protrusion at the surface of the thermal insulator ranges from t to 5t inclusive, where t is a thickness of the thermal insulator, and pores are provided inside the thermal insulator in a region provided with the protrusions.

Provided is a thermal insulator which can be prevented from having gaps. The thermal insulator includes a nonwoven fabric, and xerogel in interior spaces of the nonwoven fabric. The thermal insulator has a plurality of protrusions on a surface of the thermal insulator, a height of the protrusion ranges from 0.10t to 0.25t inclusive and a size of the protrusion at the surface of the thermal insulator ranges from t to 5t inclusive, where t is a thickness of the thermal insulator, and pores are provided inside the thermal insulator in a region provided with the protrusions.

An object is to provide a heat insulating sheet that is easily attachable even if a size is increased, and to provide a method for manufacturing the same. A heat insulating sheet includes nonwoven fabric, and heat insulating body carrying xerogel in a space inside nonwoven fabric. Heat insulating body includes first region carrying the xerogel, and second region not carrying the xerogel and provided inside an outer periphery of heat insulating body. The heat insulating sheet is configured such that each of both surfaces of heat insulating body is provided with protective sheet, and in a periphery of heat insulating body and in second region, protective sheets are mutually joined or protective sheets and second region are joined.

A process for separations and recovery from mixtures via specific adsorption using high-surface area, flexible silica-based nanostructured gel adsorbents and articles of manufacture relating to same.