Aerogel compositions that include polyamic amides, methods for preparing the aerogel compositions, and articles of manufacture that include or manufactured from the aerogel compositions are described.

Provided are a method for preparing a hydrophobic silica aerogel by the combined use of a first surface modifier and a second surface modifier, and a hydrophobic silica aerogel prepared by using the method. A hydrophobic silica aerogel having excellent physical properties and pore characteristics as well as a high degree of hydrophobicity may be prepared with high efficiency by the preparation method according to the present invention.

The present invention is directed to a process for preparing an inorganic aerogel, the process comprising the steps of providing a composition (I) suitable to form an inorganic gel with a gelation time t.sub.G, spraying the composition (I) into supercritical carbon dioxide at a spraying time t.sub.S to obtain gel particles, and drying the gel particles obtained in step (ii) by supercritical liquid extraction, wherein the ratio t.sub.S:t.sub.G is in the range of from 0.2 to 0.99. The present invention further is directed to the inorganic aerogel as such as well as the use of the inorganic aerogel according to the invention in particular for medical and pharmaceutical applications or for thermal insulation.

The present invention relates to gel compositions comprising at least one entrapped active component.

The present disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing an aerogel blanket. The method includes preparing a wet gel blanket including an organic solvent, introducing the wet gel blanket into a supercritical extraction device, and drying the wet gel blanket using supercritical carbon dioxide, decompressing the pressure of the supercritical extraction device, and supplying gaseous carbon dioxide to the decompressed supercritical extraction device to dry the wet gel blanket.

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.

Aerogel materials, aerogel composites and the like may be improved by enhancing their smoke suppression, combustion reduction properties. It is additionally useful to provide aerogel based composites compatible with environments conducive to combustion. Such aerogel materials and methods of manufacturing the same are described.

The present invention relates to a heat insulation composition, containing aerogel, with improved heat insulation and soundproofing properties, and a method for manufacturing a heat insulation fabric by using the same. The heat insulation composition is prepared by mixing solvent, aerogel powder, adhesive binder and carbon black powder, thereby improving the heat insulation property at an extremely low temperature and at a high temperature, and also enhancing the soundproofing property.

Provided are printable gel or hydrogel compositions, methods of making printable gel or hydrogel compositions, uses of the printable gel or hydrogel compositions, objects formed from the printable gel or hydrogel compositions, and methods of using those objects. The printable gel or hydrogel compositions may be formed from a graphene component, a polymer component, and a carrier. The printable gel or hydrogel compositions may be used as inks in additive manufacturing techniques to 3D print a 3D object. The 3D object may be freeze-dried to form an aerogel. The aerogel may be used to remove contaminants from aqueous samples.

Described here is a metal-carbon composite, comprising (a) a porous three-dimensional scaffold comprising one or more of carbon nanotubes, graphene and graphene oxide, and (b) metal nanoparticles disposed on said porous scaffold, wherein the metal-carbon composite has a density of 1 g/cm.sup.3 or less, and wherein the metal nanoparticles account for 1 wt. % or more of the metal-carbon composite. Also described are methods for making the metal-carbon composite.