Provided is a method for drying a wet-gel blanket which can have an excellent heat insulation performance by minimizing shrinkage of a gel network structure that occurs during drying, and has excellent drying efficiency versus time, and a method for producing an aerogel blanket using same.

A method for the preparation of industrial-scale concrete installations with improved compression strength, curling, cracking and cracking characteristics, the method comprising the addition of nanosilica particulate, and more preferably, colloidal amorphous silica, having specific size and surface area characteristics to a concrete mix after water has been added to the mix and the mix has been agitated.

A method for the preparation of industrial-scale concrete installations with improved compression strength, curling, cracking and cracking characteristics, the method comprising the addition of nanosilica particulate, and more preferably, colloidal amorphous silica, having specific size and surface area characteristics to a concrete mix after water has been added to the mix and the mix has been agitated.

The present invention relates to a process for producing a hydrophobized shaped thermal-insulation body, comprising pressing or compacting a thermal-insulation mixture containing a silica, an IR opacifier, an organosilicon compound A and an organosilicon compound B, wherein organosilicon compound A is hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) and organosilicon compound B corresponds to a substance of the formula R.sub.nSiX.sub.4-n, where R=hydrocarbyl radical having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, n=0, 1 or 2, X=Cl, Br or alkoxy group —OR.sup.1 where R.sup.1=hydrocarbyl radical having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or organosilicon compound B corresponds to a silanol of the formula HO[—Si(CH.sub.3).sub.2O—].sub.mH, where m=2-100.

The present invention relates to a process for producing a hydrophobized shaped thermal-insulation body, comprising pressing or compacting a thermal-insulation mixture containing a silica, an IR opacifier, an organosilicon compound A and an organosilicon compound B, wherein organosilicon compound A is hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) and organosilicon compound B corresponds to a substance of the formula R.sub.nSiX.sub.4-n, where R=hydrocarbyl radical having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, n=0, 1 or 2, X=Cl, Br or alkoxy group —OR.sup.1 where R.sup.1=hydrocarbyl radical having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or organosilicon compound B corresponds to a silanol of the formula HO[—Si(CH.sub.3).sub.2O—].sub.mH, where m=2-100.

Described herein is bio-fiber-based building material wherein the thermal performance is improved by two to four-fold over the prior art Hemperete by identifying and incorporating performance-enhancing ingredients into a bio-fiber and binder mix using specifically developed mixing formulas.

Components and systems to manage thermal runaway issues in electric vehicle batteries are provided. Exemplary embodiments include a heat control member. The heat control member can include reinforced aerogel compositions that are durable and easy to handle, have favorable performance for use as heat control members and thermal barriers for batteries, have favorable insulation properties, and have favorable reaction to fire, combustion and flame-resistance properties. Also provided are methods of preparing or manufacturing such reinforced aerogel compositions. In certain embodiments, the composition has a silica-based aerogel framework reinforced with a fiber and including one or more opacifying additives.

Components and systems to manage thermal runaway issues in electric vehicle batteries are provided. Exemplary embodiments include a heat control member. The heat control member can include reinforced aerogel compositions that are durable and easy to handle, have favorable performance for use as heat control members and thermal barriers for batteries, have favorable insulation properties, and have favorable reaction to fire, combustion and flame-resistance properties. Also provided are methods of preparing or manufacturing such reinforced aerogel compositions. In certain embodiments, the composition has a silica-based aerogel framework reinforced with a fiber and including one or more opacifying additives.

A silica aerogel having a mean pore size less than 5 nm with a standard deviation of 3 nm. The silica aerogel may have greater than 95% solar-weighted transmittance at a thickness of 8 mm for wavelengths in the range of 250 nm to 2500 nm, and a 400° C. black-body weighted specific extinction coefficient of greater than 8 m.sup.2/kg for wavelengths of 1.5 μm to 15 μm. Silica aerogel synthesis methods are described. A solar thermal aerogel receiver (STAR) may include an opaque frame defining an opening, an aerogel layer disposed in the opaque frame, with at least a portion of the aerogel layer being proximate the opening, and a heat transfer fluid pipe in thermal contact with and proximate the aerogel layer. A concentrating solar energy system may include a STAR and at least one reflector to direct sunlight to an opening in the STAR.

Provided is a silica aerogel blanket capable of preventing deterioration of heat insulating performance while reducing dust generation, and method for manufacturing the same. The method manufactures a low-dust silica aerogel blanket by separately adding a silica sol to prevent an opacifying agent from being exposed to the surface of the silica aerogel blanket.