A method for preparing aerogel particles and a coated component are provided. The coated component includes a substrate and a coating. The coating includes aerogel particles sprayed from a hot gas jet or plasma jet. The method includes the step of feeding one or a plurality of gel particles into a hot gas jet or plasma j et. The one or a plurality of gel particles are sufficiently small to permit supercritical drying during the time the particles are in the jet. The method further includes the step of exposing the one or a plurality of gel particles to the temperatures and pressures of the hot gas jet or plasma jet to create the aerogel particles outside of a jet emitter and/or without a sealed pressure vessel.

A method of producing thermoplastic particles may comprise: mixing a melt emulsion comprising (a) a continuous phase that comprises a carrier fluid having a polarity Hansen solubility parameter (dP) of about 7 MPa.sup.0.5 or less, (b) a dispersed phase that comprises a dispersing fluid having a dP of about 8 MPa.sup.0.5 or more, and (c) an inner phase that comprises a thermoplastic polyester at a temperature greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the thermoplastic polyester and at a shear rate sufficiently high to disperse the thermoplastic polyester in the dispersed phase; and cooling the melt emulsion to below the melting point or softening temperature of the thermoplastic polyester to form solidified particles comprising the thermoplastic polyester.

A method of producing thermoplastic particles may comprise: mixing a melt emulsion comprising (a) a continuous phase that comprises a carrier fluid having a polarity Hansen solubility parameter (dP) of about 7 MPa.sup.0.5 or less, (b) a dispersed phase that comprises a dispersing fluid having a dP of about 8 MPa.sup.0.5 or more, and (c) an inner phase that comprises a thermoplastic polyester at a temperature greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the thermoplastic polyester and at a shear rate sufficiently high to disperse the thermoplastic polyester in the dispersed phase; and cooling the melt emulsion to below the melting point or softening temperature of the thermoplastic polyester to form solidified particles comprising the thermoplastic polyester.

A method includes spraying a liquid including polymer and a gas substantially inert to the liquid respectively from a first and second orifice of a nozzle into air to form mist of beads. The beads then are collected with a collecting medium at a temperature in a range from about 10 C. to about 80 C. The collecting medium includes at least one of water and alcohols.

A method includes spraying a liquid including polymer and a gas substantially inert to the liquid respectively from a first and second orifice of a nozzle into air to form mist of beads. The beads then are collected with a collecting medium at a temperature in a range from about 10 C. to about 80 C. The collecting medium includes at least one of water and alcohols.

A method for manufacturing hydrogel particles includes a step of cooling an aqueous solution, in which a gel agent forming a non-crosslinked hydrogel is dissolved, down to a temperature lower than the gel point of the aqueous solution. In the step of cooling, a cooled substance of the aqueous solution is stirred at least at the gel point, and after the gel point has been reached, a stirring energy of 400 kW.Math.s/m.sup.3 or higher is applied to the cooled substance of the aqueous solution with stirring at a required stirring power per unit volume of 0.8 kW/m.sup.3 or higher.

A method for manufacturing hydrogel particles includes a step of cooling an aqueous solution, in which a gel agent forming a non-crosslinked hydrogel is dissolved, down to a temperature lower than the gel point of the aqueous solution. In the step of cooling, a cooled substance of the aqueous solution is stirred at least at the gel point, and after the gel point has been reached, a stirring energy of 400 kW.Math.s/m.sup.3 or higher is applied to the cooled substance of the aqueous solution with stirring at a required stirring power per unit volume of 0.8 kW/m.sup.3 or higher.

Provided is a latent heat transfer material that is micro-encapsulated, said material exhibiting superior mechanical strength and heat resistance. A production method for the latent heat transfer material that is micro-encapsulated in a hard shell comprises: 1) a step in which a perforate hollow silica particle is manufactured; 2) a step in which the phase change material is sealed inside the perforate hollow silica particle by inserting the perforate hollow silica particle in a molten solution of the phase change material and repeatedly subjecting the same to vibrations such as ultrasound oscillations; 3) a step in which the perforate hollow silica particle having the phase change material sealed within is washed in a saturated aqueous solution of the phase change material; and 4) a step in which perhydropolysilazane is used to coat the outer shell of the perforate hollow silica particle with silica.

Provided is a latent heat transfer material that is micro-encapsulated, said material exhibiting superior mechanical strength and heat resistance. A production method for the latent heat transfer material that is micro-encapsulated in a hard shell comprises: 1) a step in which a perforate hollow silica particle is manufactured; 2) a step in which the phase change material is sealed inside the perforate hollow silica particle by inserting the perforate hollow silica particle in a molten solution of the phase change material and repeatedly subjecting the same to vibrations such as ultrasound oscillations; 3) a step in which the perforate hollow silica particle having the phase change material sealed within is washed in a saturated aqueous solution of the phase change material; and 4) a step in which perhydropolysilazane is used to coat the outer shell of the perforate hollow silica particle with silica.

A method for forming spheroidal particles including inducing flow of a slurry of particles and a reactant through one or more orifices, detaching an amount of the slurry from the slurry flow following exit from the one or more orifices, the detached amount forming a slurry body, forming the slurry body into a spheroidal shape, contacting the spheroidally shaped slurry body with a coagulation solution to form a stabilized spheroidal particle and drying and/or sintering the stabilized spheroidal particle.