A composition and method for fabricating graphitic nanocomposites in solid state matrices is presented. The process for fabricating graphitic nanocomposites in solid state matrices may include selecting one or a mixture of specific graphitic nanomaterials. The graphitic nanomaterial(s) may be functionalizing with a moiety similar to the building blocks of the solid state matrices. The functionalized graphitic nanomaterials are mixed with the building blocks of the solid state matrices. The mixture may be cured, which causes in situ formation of the sol-gel solid state matrices that entraps and/or covalently links with the graphitic nanomaterials during the network growing process. This process allows the nanomaterials to be introduced into the matrices homogeneously without forming large aggregations.

Provided is an aerogel blanket and a method for producing the same, wherein a catalyzed sol is sufficiently and uniformly impregnated into a blanket in an impregnation tank, and the catalyzed sol is allowed to stay in the impregnation tank for a specific time to control fluidity while achieving a viscosity at which the catalyzed sol can be easily introduced into the blanket, thereby forming a uniform aerogel in the blanket. As a result, the uniformity of pore structure and thermal insulation performance of an aerogel blanket are improved, the loss of raw materials is reduced through the impregnation process, the occurrence of process problems is reduced, and the generation of dust is reduced.

A thermal insulation sheet is used that includes a fiber, a silica aerogel contained in the fiber, and a fibrous cavity. A method for manufacturing a thermal insulation sheet is used that includes: an impregnation step of impregnating a silica aerosol in a nonwoven fabric substrate containing a fiber that is insoluble in an acidic solution, and a fiber that is soluble in the acidic solution; a gelling step of gelling the silica aerosol; a hydrophobizing step of hydrophobizing the gel; and a drying step of drying the gel. The fiber that is soluble in the acidic solution is dissolved in the hydrophobizing step.

A method of preparing aerogels/nonwoven composites fireproof and heat-insulating materials with a hydrophobic or hydrophilic surfaces and includes steps as follows. A mixture solution in which alkoxysilane, silicones and silane coupling agents are mixed and stirred is instilled by acidic catalysts for a hydrolysis reaction during which a silane coupling agent solution is added for continuous stirring; a hydrous alkali catalytic (anhydrous alkali catalytic) organic solution is added in the mixture solution for a condensation reaction and development of a silicones-silica aerogels-silane coupling agents aerogel mixture solution; a non-woven felt is impregnated with the mixture solution for development of soft hydrophobic (hydrophilic) aerogels/nonwoven composites fireproof and heat-insulating materials after curing and natural drying. The aerogels/nonwoven composites materials with softness and surface hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity available in mass production are applicable to thermal-insulating materials for high-temp industrial facilities or indoor heat-insulating and fireproof panels of a building structure.

An additive for incorporating ultraviolet radiation protection into a synthetic polymer with the additive and the synthetic polymer for forming a synthetic material is disclosed which has a quantity of zinc oxide particles modified with a layer of a reactive group that forms a bond with a synthetic polymer having CH bonds. A product for incorporating ultraviolet radiation protection into a synthetic polymer prior to forming a synthetic material has a quantity of a synthetic polymer and a quantity of zinc oxide particles modified with a layer of a reactive group that forms a bond with the quantity of the synthetic polymer.

A product having ultraviolet radiation protection and antimicrobial protection has a quantity of synthetic material, a quantity of zinc oxide particles with each particle having a surface, the quantity of zinc oxide particles in the range of 0.05 percent to 0.10 percent, and a quantity of a reactive group for modifying each surface of each zinc oxide particle, the quantity of the reactive group for incorporating the quantity of zinc oxide particles into the quantity of synthetic material prior to the quantity of synthetic material being formed into a fiber.

A method for forming a metallic nanoparticle and semiconductor coated surface, such as the surface of a fiber or other material is provided. The method can include the steps of coating at least one surface of a material, for example a textile material, with a semiconducting layer, and providing metallic nanoparticles on the semiconducting layer. The steps for coating a surface of a material with a semiconducting layer can include forming a titanium dioxide film on the surface of the textile or other material. The steps for depositing and/or providing metallic nanoparticles on the semiconducting layer can include immersing a surface having a semiconductor layer into a metallic nanoparticle precursor solution, drying the semiconductor layer, and exposing the semiconductor layer on the surface to UV radiation. The metallic nanoparticles can include gold and/or silver nanoparticles. Also disclosed are surface treated materials having a semiconductor layer thereon, wherein the semiconductor layer is treated to include metallic nanoparticles. The surface treated materials may comprise surfaces of a textile material, such as fibers. The surface treated materials are anti-microbial and resistant to peeling, as well as non-toxic to biological surfaces, such as skin. Treated fiber materials may be used in garments, masks, and other products that contact the skin, that are free of toxic/rash side effects.

The present invention relates to an apparatus of manufacturing an aerogel sheet. The apparatus of manufacturing the aerogel sheet includes: a plurality of fixing vessels into which a fiber sheet is inserted; and an impregnation vessels provided with an accommodation part in which the plurality of fixing vessels are stacked in multistage and a silica precursor injection part which injects a silica precursor into the accommodation part to impregnate the silica precursor into the fiber sheet inserted into each of the fixing vessels.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an aerogel sheet and comprises: a step (a) of impregnating an acid solution into a fiber sheet to clean the fiber sheet by using the acid solution and impregnating a binder solution into the fiber sheet that is cleaned by using the acid solution to manufacture a pre-processed fiber sheet; a step (b) of impregnating a silica precursor into the pre-processed fiber sheet; and a step (c) of a gelling catalyst into the fiber sheet into which the silica precursor is impregnated to gelate the silica precursor.

The present invention relates to a low-dust, high insulation aerogel blanket and a method for producing the same. More specifically, the present invention provides a method for producing a low-dust, high insulation aerogel blanket, wherein a plate type Mg(OH).sub.2.MgO.SiO.sub.2 powder is added to a silica sol, thereby being capable of reducing the generation of dust with excellent flame retardancy and thermal conductivity, and an aerogel blanket produced thereby.