An organic polymer aerogel that includes an organic polymer gel matrix and microstructures dispersed or embedded within the aerogel is disclosed. The aerogel can have an at least bimodal pore size distribution comprising a first peak of less than or equal to 65 nm and a second peak greater than or equal to 100 nm.

Aerogel-based components and systems for electric vehicle thermal management 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 fiber-reinforced aerogel is disclosed. The aerogel can include a porous organic polymer matrix and fibers included in the porous organic polymer matrix. The aerogel can include a thermal conductivity of less than or equal to 60 mWIm.Math.K at a temperature of 20° C., at least a bimodal pore size distribution with a first mode of pores having an average pore size of less than or equal to 50 nanometers (nm) and a second mode of pores having an average pore size of greater than 50 nm, and a planar shape having a thickness of 5 millimeters (mm) or less and is capable of being rolled up into a roll, wherein the fibers form a woven fiber matrix.

The invention relates to insulating composite materials comprising an inorganic aerogel and a melamine foam. The invention also relates to the product method of said materials, and to the use of same.

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.

A method can be used for manufacturing one or more bodies made of a porous material derived from precursors of the porous material in a sol-gel process. The method involves filling precursors of the porous material into a mold defining the shape of the body, where the precursors include at least two reactive components and a solvent, and forming a gel body. The step is then repeated so as to form several gel bodies. The gel bodies are then removed from the mold after a predetermined time in which the gel bodies are formed from the precursors of the porous material. The gel bodies are arranged adjacent to one another, a spacer is provided between two adjacent gel bodies so as to provide a clearance therebetween, and the solvent is then removed from the gel bodies.

The present invention provides a fiber-reinforced aerogel material which can be used as insulation in thermal battery applications. The fiber-reinforced aerogel material is highly durable, flexible, and has a thermal performance that exceeds the insulation materials currently used in thermal battery applications. The fiber-reinforced aerogel insulation material can be as thin as 1 mm less, and can have a thickness variation as low as 2% or less. Also provided is a method for improving the performance of a thermal battery by incorporating a reinforced aerogel material into the thermal battery. Further provided is a casting method for producing thin fiber-reinforced aerogel materials.

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 present disclosure relates to a method for making a carbon aerogel electrode material. The method involves initially making a wet organic sol-gel form. The sol-gel form is carbonized at a temperature of from about 900° C. to about 1000° C., for from about 2 hours to about 4 hours. The carbonized sol-gel is then activated under carbon dioxide flow, for from about 0.5 hour to about 1.5 hours, at from about 900° C. to about 1000° C.

The invention provides highly reactive nano-sized alumina particle compositions, including alumina compositions with a BET surface areas on the order of 2000 m.sup.2/g. Also disclosed are impregnated alumina supports comprising materials that are metal oxides or carbonates. Methods for the synthesis and fabrication of these compositions are provided, along methods for the use of these compositions as sorbents.