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.

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.

The present invention relates to an aerogel blanket having a moisture impregnation rate of 28 days (MIR-28D) of 100 wt % or less, which is calculated by Equation 1 below:

Moisture impregnation rate of 28 days (MIR-28D,wt %)={(Aerogel blanket weight after impregnation in distilled water of 21±2° C. for 28 days−Aerogel blanket weight before impregnation in distilled water)/Aerogel blanket weight before impregnation in distilled water}×100.  [Equation 1]

A method of preparing acicular metal-silica composite aerogel particles by adjusting an aspect ratio of the acicular shape through the adjustment of concentrations of an acidic solution, a solution including a metal salt, and a water glass solution which are reactants, and acicular metal-silica composite aerogel particles prepared thereby. The method prepares acicular metal-silica composite aerogel particles in a short period of time under mild conditions of low temperature and atmospheric pressure, the process is simple, and production costs are reduced in comparison to a conventional preparation method, and thus, productivity and economic efficiency are excellent. When the acicular metal-silica composite aerogel particles are used as an additive of a polymer resin, physical properties, such as viscosity and thixotropy, are improved.

A method of preparing acicular metal-silica composite aerogel particles by adjusting an aspect ratio of the acicular shape through the adjustment of concentrations of an acidic solution, a solution including a metal salt, and a water glass solution which are reactants, and acicular metal-silica composite aerogel particles prepared thereby. The method prepares acicular metal-silica composite aerogel particles in a short period of time under mild conditions of low temperature and atmospheric pressure, the process is simple, and production costs are reduced in comparison to a conventional preparation method, and thus, productivity and economic efficiency are excellent. When the acicular metal-silica composite aerogel particles are used as an additive of a polymer resin, physical properties, such as viscosity and thixotropy, are improved.

The invention herein disclosed and claimed is a process for refining fiber from lignocellulosic biomass. The process provides refined fiber and agriculturally amenable co-products, with a virtually waste-free systems design.

The invention herein disclosed and claimed is a process for refining fiber from lignocellulosic biomass. The process provides refined fiber and agriculturally amenable co-products, with a virtually waste-free systems design.

Materials and methods for preparing thick, mesoporous silica monolithic slabs and coatings with high transparency and low thermal conductivity are provided. The transparent silica materials are particularly suited for window or solar applications including insulation barriers for existing or new single, double pane windows or glass panel building components. The template-free, water-based sol-gel methods produce slabs or coatings by gelation of a colloidal suspension of silica or other oxide nanoparticles or by ambigel formation and then ageing and drying the gels under ambient conditions. Solvent exchanges with nonpolar, low-surface-tension solvents help to avoid cracking caused by drying stress. Mesoporous slabs can also be cast in molds on perfluorocarbon liquid substrates to reduce adhesion and enable gels to shrink freely during aging and drying without incurring significant stress that could cause fracture.

A composition and method for producing the ultra-tough nanocomposite aerogel are disclosed. The ultra-tough nanocomposite aerogel may include a dispersion of at least one filler in an aerogel. This method is used to improve the mechanical properties of aerogel by preserving the microstructural and thermal properties of the aerogel, as the addition of the filler leads to an increase in the mechanical properties without any significant increase in the density.

A composition and method for producing the ultra-tough nanocomposite aerogel are disclosed. The ultra-tough nanocomposite aerogel may include a dispersion of at least one filler in an aerogel. This method is used to improve the mechanical properties of aerogel by preserving the microstructural and thermal properties of the aerogel, as the addition of the filler leads to an increase in the mechanical properties without any significant increase in the density.