The present invention relates to a method for producing a silica aerogel and a silica aerogel produced thereby. The present invention provides a two-step process of a nucleation step of forming silica colloid particles by using a low-concentration silica precursor and a growth step of further adding a relatively high-concentration silica precursor to form a silica wet gel by using the silica colloid particles as a seed. Thus, the present invention provides a method for producing a silica aerogel of which mechanical stability is improved to enhance pore characteristics, and physical properties are readily controllable, and also provides a silica aerogel produced thereby.

A hydrophobic treatment method is used in which at least one sheet filled with a gelled silicic acid is tilted at least two degrees with respect to a horizontal direction in a hydrophobizing solution, and the gelled silicic acid is hydrophobized. A manufacturing method for a sheet-like member is also used. The manufacturing method includes: a sol preparing step of adjusting the pH of a water glass aqueous solution to obtain a sol solution of silicic acid; an adding step of adding the sol solution to a fiber; a gel step of polymerizing and gelling the sol solution; a hydrophobic treatment step of hydrophobizing the gel with the hydrophobic treatment method; and a drying step of drying the hydrophobized gel.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a silica aerogel and a silica aerogel produced thereby. More specifically, a first water glass solution is used to form a first silica wet gel, and then a second water glass solution is additionally added to form a second silica wet gel organically bonded to the first silica wet gel which serves as a basic skeleton, so that a silica aerogel with enhanced physical properties is formed to increase the resistance to shrinkage in ambient drying, and the concentration of silicon dioxide in each of the first and second water glass solutions is controlled, thereby providing a method for producing a silica aerogel by which a silica aerogel having a specific tap density and controllable density can be produced, and also providing a silicon aerogel produced by the method.

This disclosure relates generally to aerogel technology. The disclosure relates more particularly, in various embodiments, to improved methods for producing aerogels and improved aerogel composites having a low compression set.

A porous silica particle optimized as the scrubbing agent is used for a cleansing cosmetic. The porous silica particle has an average circularity of 0.1 to 0.5, a pore volume of 1.0 to 2.0 ml/g, a mode diameter of 50 to 600 m, and a ratio of the maximum particle diameter to the mode diameter of 3.0 or less. The porous silica particle moreover has a median size of 0.5 to 25 m and the maximum particle diameter of 1 to 100 m, after rubbing with a load of 1.0 to 1.4 KPa for 30 seconds. With the cleansing cosmetic containing this particle, the skin is rubbed by the frictional force generated by the friction with the skin at the rubbing. Therefore, the mild peeling effect for the stratum corneum is obtained and the damage of the skin and the micro damage on the stratum corneum can be prevented.

Embodiments of the invention include methods for making silica fiber mats useful for treatment of animal wounds and tissue, as well as for other applications in industry. The fiber mats are formed via electrospinning of a sol gel produced with a silicon alkoxide reagent, such as tetraethyl ortho silicate, alcohol solvent, and an acid catalyst.

Embodiments of the invention include methods for making silica fiber mats useful for treatment of animal wounds and tissue, as well as for other applications in industry. The fiber mats are formed via electrospinning of a sol gel produced with a silicon alkoxide reagent, such as tetraethyl ortho silicate, alcohol solvent, and an acid catalyst.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a silica aerogel and a silica aerogel produced thereby. More specifically, a first water glass solution is used to form a first silica wet gel, and then a second water glass solution is additionally added to form a second silica wet gel organically bonded to the first silica wet gel which serves as a basic skeleton, so that a silica aerogel with enhanced physical properties is formed to increase the resistance to shrinkage in ambient drying. Thus, a low-density silica aerogel may be formed, and the concentrations of the first and second water glass solutions may be adjusted to control the physical properties of the silica aerogel.

The present invention provides a nozzle plate and the use of the nozzle plate for producing filaments, preferably silica gel fibers.

Described herein are novel synthetic molecules, polymers, and compositions comprising silica-binding peptides, and their methods of production. Also described herein are methods of synthesizing structurally and chemically complex silica-based materials using the synthetic molecules, polymers, and compositions.