Systems and methods are provided for aerogel processing and production via vacuum-assisted solvent exchange and ambient pressure drying. In one example, a method includes injecting a solvent at each of a top surface and a base of a saturated aerogel and applying a vacuum-assisted pressure differential across the saturated aerogel to achieve solvent exchange. In some examples, following solvent exchange, the aerogel may be dried in ambient pressure and integrated in a vehicle component. In this way, a rate of solvent exchange may be increased, concomitantly increasing aerogel production efficiency. Further, in some examples, the aerogel may be protected from premature drying during solvent exchange.

Method for preparing porous polyurethane materials with controlled pore size and shape using isocyanates, polyols, and additives, and the porous polyurethane materials prepared therefrom. Method for preparing porous polyimides using at least one polyamine and a dianhydride and the porous polyimides materials prepared therefrom. The porous materials are useful for energy management, such as thermal, impact and vibration energy, and can exhibit improved fire-resistant performance.

Method of preparing a porous material includes preparing a mixture of from about 10 to about 30% by mass of a matrix material, from about 20 to about 60% by mass of a plurality of particles, from about 20 to about 60% by mass of a porogen, and from about 1 to about 10% by mass of an interfacial compatibilizer. The matrix material and the porogen may be selected so as to be phase separated in the mixture. The method may further include placing the mixture into a form; initiating a solidification of the matrix material during which the porogen remains nonvolatile and the matrix material and the porogen remain phase separated; and removing at least a portion of the porogen to obtain the porous material. Porous materials produced by the methods. Microfluidic channels produced by the methods.

Provided is a superabsorbent structure based on a covalently crosslinked copolymer having a microstructure of a HIPE, and characterized by hydrophobic and hydrophilic segments of at least five residues; the unique chemical and structural properties of the copolymer afford a polymeric superabsorbent structure that is capable of swelling in polar as well as apolar media. Also provided are processes of manufacturing the superabsorbent structure, and uses thereof.

The present invention relates to a highly fluorinated nanostructured polymer foam as well as to its use as a super-repellent coating of substrates. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a composition and to a method for producing the highly fluorinated nanostructured polymer foam.

A porous polymer monolith comprises a polymer body having macroporous through-pores that facilitate fluid flow through the body and an array of mesopores adapted to bind from the fluid flow molecules of a predetermined range of sizes, wherein the surface area of the monolith is predominantly provided by the mesopores. Also disclosed is a method of making a porous polymer monolith. The method includes forming a polymer body by phase separation out of a solution containing at least a monomer, a crosslinker and a primary porogen, whereby the body contains multiple macroporous through-pores, wherein the solution further contains a secondary porogen comprising oligomers inert with respect to the monomer and cross-linker but chemically compatible with the monomer so as to form mesostructures within the polymer body during said phase separation, and washing the mesostructures from the body to provide an array of mesopores such that the surface area of the monolith is predominantly provided by the mesopores.

The present invention discloses novel porous polymeric compositions comprising random copolymers of amides, imides, ureas, and carbamic-anhydrides, useful for the synthesis of monolithic bimodal microporous/macroporous carbon aerogels. It also discloses methods for producing said microporous/macroporous carbon aerogels by the reaction of a polyisocyanate compound and a polycarboxylic acid compound, followed by pyrolytic carbonization, and by reactive etching with CO.sub.2 at elevated temperatures. Also disclosed are methods for using the microporous/macroporous carbon aerogels in the selective capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide.

Provided is a superabsorbent structure based on a covalently crosslinked copolymer having a microstructure of a HIPE, and characterized by hydrophobic and hydrophilic segments of at least five residues; the unique chemical and structural properties of the copolymer afford a polymeric superabsorbent structure that is capable of swelling in polar as well as apolar media. Also provided are processes of manufacturing the superabsorbent structure, and uses thereof.

The invention discloses a separator with a wide temperature range and a low heat shrinkage and a method for preparing the same. The invention belongs to the field of electrochemistry. The separator of the invention includes: an irradiation crosslinked fluoropolymer A with a melting point above 150° C. and/or a polymer B containing a benzene ring in its main chain; an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene having a molecular weight of 1.0×10.sup.6-10.0×10.sup.6, and a high density polyethylene having a density in the range of 0.940-0.976 g/cm.sup.3; the temperature difference between pore closing temperature and film breaking temperature of the separator is 80-90° C., preferably 85-90° C., the heat shrinkage of the separator is 2.0% or less. The separator of the invention has a high temperature difference between film breaking temperature and pore closing temperature, and a low heat shrinkage; when the separator of the invention is used in an electrochemical device, the reliability and safety of electrochemical device can be effectively improved.

The present invention discloses a cross-linked nanoporous saccharide-based material comprising saccharides as building blocks, also referred as nanoporous Nanosponge materials. The reaction of saccharides with cross-linkers at different saccharides to cross-linker ratios in one-pot shall allow formation of nanoporous Nanosponge material. This method further allows introduction of new functional groups on this material by the use of suitable cross-linkers and surface grafting agents, and these functional groups shall be able to provide different interaction forces with water, volatile organic vapors (VOCs) and metal ions. Along with larger inner surface area owing to the presence of nanopores or nanocavities in comparison to porous materials, saccharide-based nanoporous Nanosponge materials shall find broad applications in thermal insulation, water retention, hydrophobic finishes, odor removal properties, and metal ions exchange or absorption from water or soil. The nanoporous Nanosponge materials shall be eco-friendly, biodegradable, and allowing recycle or reuse of spent materials.