Fiber-reinforced organic polymer aerogels, articles of manufacture and uses thereof are described. The reinforced aerogels include a fiber-reinforced organic polymer matrix having an at least 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 thermal conductivity of less than or equal to 30 mW/m.Math.K at a temperature of 20° C.

A system and method for producing an aerogel composite material includes a reaction vessel having a movable carrier basket for receiving a plurality of fiber mats, and a plurality of plates to space the fiber mats apart from one another. Once the plates have been removed, there are gaps between the aerogel insulating boards, through which hot drying air can be blown during a drying process. The method has the advantage that the quantities of solvents and reagents to be disposed of are minimal, and in addition thereto, no complex work-up processes are necessary.

A method of producing a metal form containing dispersed aerogel particles impregnated with polymers comprising a method of impregnating an aerogel with polymers, placing the aerogel impregnated with polymers within a dissolved polymer, cooling the dissolved polymer to create a polymer form with dispersed aerogel particles impregnated with polymers, adding molten metal to the polymer form, vaporizing the polymer form, replacing the polymer form with molten metal, and cooling the molten metal to yield a metal form containing dispersed aerogel particles impregnated with polymers. Dispersing the aerogel particles impregnated with polymers within the polymer form prior to adding molten metal allows the aerogel particles to be fully dispersed throughout the metal form.

The present invention relates to a sol composition for forming an aerogel composite, wherein the sol composition is a sol composition with a sufficient pot life for forming an aerogel composite superior in thermal insulation and flexibility, and comprises: at least one selected from the group consisting of a silicon compound having a hydrolyzable functional group or a condensable functional group and a hydrolysis product of the silicon compound having a hydrolyzable functional group; and a silica particle having an average primary particle diameter of 5 to 300 nm or a specific surface area of 10 to 600 m.sup.2/g.

Disclosed is a method for producing an organic polymer aerogel and corresponding aerogels and articles of manufacture comprising such aerogels. The method can include polymerizing an organic polymerizable material in the presence of an organic solvent having a high vapor pressure and/or a low boiling point to obtain an organic polymer gel comprising an organic polymer matrix and the organic solvent, and subcritical or ambient drying the organic polymer gel under conditions suitable to remove the step (a) organic solvent and form an organic polymer aerogel.

The present disclosure provides a method for preparing a piezoresistive sensor material, including: preparing a wood fiber aerogel; conducting dopamine self-polymerization on the surface of the aerogel to obtain a wood fiber-based hydrogel; soaking the wood fiber-based hydrogel in a nano conductive phase suspension or a nano conductive phase precursor to form a conductive phase-loaded wood fiber-based hydrogel; subjecting the conductive phase-loaded wood fiber-based hydrogel to reaction with an aqueous solution including a polyelectrolyte monomer, a crosslinker, an initiator and a catalyst to form a conductive phase-wood fiber-based hydrogel composite; and complexing the composite with metal ions. The present disclosure further discloses a piezoresistive sensor including the sensor material, and a preparation method thereof. The sensor material prepared by the method of the present disclosure has excellent mechanical strength and ionic conductivity, and a sensor further prepared has extremely-high sensitivity.

Recent progress in passive radiative cooling technologies have significantly improved cooling performance under direct sunlight. Performance of existing passive radiative coolers for air conditioning and portable refrigeration applications can be improved with a material that is solar reflective and infrared transparent that can also have a low thermal conductivity.

A method for producing a hydrophilic aerogel granule is provided, which includes the steps of: mixing for the siloxane solvent mixture preparation, hydrolysis with proper acid catalyst, condensation dispersion by introducing a proper alkali catalyst into the mixture and dispersing it with hydrophobic dispersion solvent to obtain wet gel, aging under a specific temperature, disintegration dispersion for disintegrating the wet gel and dispersing it in the dispersion solvent, high temperature solvent exchange under ambient temperature with dispersion solvent, and solvent evaporation for removing the dispersion solvent.

An aerogel is provided. According to the inventive concept, the aerogel includes a first polymerization unit derived from a first monomer including an alkoxy silyl group; a second polymerization unit derived from a second monomer; and an inorganic aerogel which is chemically bonded to the first polymerization unit.

Aerogel materials, aerogel composites, and the like may be improved by the addition of opacifiers to reduce the radiative component of heat transfer. Such aerogel materials, aerogel composites, and the like may also be treated to impart or improve hydrophobicity. Such aerogel materials and methods of manufacturing the same are described.