A method of synthesizing aerogels and cross-linked aerogels in a single step and in a single pot without requiring any solvent exchange is described. Porous matrices are synthesized through a modification of hydrolysis condensation of alkoxides in which addition of water is minimized. The reaction occurs in an ethanol-water azeotrope mixture; the water in the azeotrope slowly hydrolyzes the alkoxide. Additionally, after gelation, the porous matrix is dried in supercritical ethanol rather than liquid CO.sub.2, which allows for elimination of solvent exchange steps. These modifications allow for the preparation of aerogel monoliths in any size in one step and in one pot and much faster than conventional procedures. In addition, the method provides for custom aerogel parts with large dimensions, as well as high volume fabrication of aerogels. The custom aerogel parts may be used in a variety of thermal insulation applications.

A method for producing a plate type metal-silica composite aerogel and a plate type metal-silica composite aerogel produced thereby in which the metal salt concentration and the basic catalyst concentration are adjusted to form a plate type intermediate first, and then an appropriate amount of a water glass solution is added, thereby enabling the plate type metal-silica composite aerogel to be produced in a short time under conditions of low temperature and atmospheric pressure, so that the process is simpler than the conventional production method, and the cost is reduced, which is excellent in economy. Also provided is a plate type metal-silica composite aerogel, which is produced by the claimed method and has excellent dispersibility that requires no additional surface modifier.

The present invention relates to a dextran (D) coated silica aerogel used as a drug carrier system in colon cancer treatment and a dextran (D) coated silica aerogel production method in which silica aerogels were synthesized with the Sol-Gel method are modified with amine groups and are coated with dextran (D) or dextran aldehyde (DA) to obtain said dextran (D) coated silica aerogel (S).

Processes for drying gel particles, in particular for producing aerogels, involve providing a suspension containing gel particles and a solvent, introducing the suspension into a column where carbon dioxide flows in countercurrent, and removing dried aerogel particles from the column. The suspension is introduced in the top region of the column and dried aerogel particles are removed in the lower region. Pressure and temperature in the column are set such that the mixture of carbon dioxide and solvent is virtually supercritical or is supercritical. The aerogel particles can be discharged via discharge vessels or continuous decompression. Aerogel particles can be obtained by such a process and the aerogel particles can be used for medical and pharmaceutical applications, as additive or carrier material for additives for foods, as catalyst support, for cosmetic, hygiene, washing and cleaning applications, for production of sensors, for thermal insulation, or as a core material for VIPs.

The present disclosure provides an aerogel composition which is durable and easy to handle, which has favorable performance in aqueous environments, and which also has favorable combustion and self-heating properties. Also provided is a method of preparing an aerogel composition which is durable and easy to handle, which has favorable performance in aqueous environments, and which has favorable combustion and self-heating properties. Further provided is a method of improving the hydrophobicity, the liquid water uptake, the heat of combustion, or the onset of thermal decomposition temperature of an aerogel composition.

Methods of making permeable aerogels (100) can include providing a sol mixture (110) comprising an organic scaffold, an inorganic aerogel precursor, and a first solvent. The organic scaffold can be insoluble in the first solvent. The sol mixture can react to form a gel (120) such that an interconnected channel network is formed which is at least partially defined by the organic scaffold. The first solvent in the gel can be exchanged (130) with a second solvent. The second solvent can dissolve the organic scaffold to expose the interconnected channel network. The gel can be dried (140) to form the permeable aerogel.

An aerogel structure body includes a composite layer containing fibrous materials and aerogel, the aerogel being held between the fibrous materials, and an aerogel layer having a first surface on at least one surface of the composite layer and formed of the aerogel, in which the aerogel layer having a second surface opposite to the first surface, the second surface including a projection portion projecting from the second surface, and a density of the aerogel in the projection portion is 0.1% to 3.0% higher than a density of the aerogel in the aerogel layer (flat portion) other than the projection portion. Therefore, the aerogel structure body that is excellent in dimensional stability and heat insulating properties and that can be manufactured with high productivity and a method of manufacturing the same are provided.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an aerogel blanket, the method including 1) introducing a catalyzed sol and a substrate for a blanket into a reaction vessel to impregnate the catalyzed sol into the substrate for a blanket, and 2) rotating the substrate for a blanket into which the catalyzed sol is impregnated to perform gelation, wherein the catalyzed sol includes a silica precursor composition, and the silica precursor composition includes a silicate containing a hydrophobic group and a tetraalkyl silicate, wherein a molar ratio of the silicate containing a hydrophobic group and the tetraalkyl silicate is 60:40 to 98:2.

Provided is a supercritical drying method for a silica wet gel blanket, and a method for producing a silica aerogel blanket including the same, the supercritical drying method being capable of improving drying efficiency. The supercritical drying method improves the efficiency of a supercritical drying step by reducing carbon dioxide usage without additional equipment investment and energy input, thereby drying a silica wet gel blanket in a more economical manner.

Provided is a method for manufacturing an aerogel blanket having improved processability by reducing manufacturing time and cost, the method including the steps of mixing a precursor material, an acid catalyst and a hydrous alcohol to prepare a sol, depositing a substrate in the sol, and reacting with a gaseous silazane-based compound to form a gel and to perform aging and surface modification reaction simultaneously to form a wet gel blanket, and drying the wet gel blanket to manufacture an aerogel blanket.