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 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.

The present invention relates to a cosmetic method for improving the surface appearance of skin having relief, skin having spots or aging related irregularities, comprising applying to human skin in need thereof a composition comprising particles of three-dimensional ordered porous structure comprising spheroidal pores, said pores having an average pore diameter ranging from 50 nm to 500 nm, the pore diameter varying by no greater than 15%, said particles having an average largest dimension ranging from 1 to 50 m, and wherein said inorganic material comprising a continuous phase being obtained from (a) at least a metal oxide of metal having a valency between 1 and 6, (b) at least SiO.sub.2 or Si.sub.xO.sub.y with x and y comprised independently from another between 0.1 and 2 or (c) a network of covalently bonded metal oxide and metalloid, the metal oxide and the metalloid being of (a) and (b). It furthers relates to a particular organic material and a process of manufacturing the same.

The present invention relates to a cosmetic method for improving the surface appearance of skin having relief, skin having spots or aging related irregularities, comprising applying to human skin in need thereof a composition comprising particles of three-dimensional ordered porous structure comprising spheroidal pores, said pores having an average pore diameter ranging from 50 nm to 500 nm, the pore diameter varying by no greater than 15%, said particles having an average largest dimension ranging from 1 to 50 m, and wherein said inorganic material comprising a continuous phase being obtained from (a) at least a metal oxide of metal having a valency between 1 and 6, (b) at least SiO.sub.2 or Si.sub.xO.sub.y with x and y comprised independently from another between 0.1 and 2 or (c) a network of covalently bonded metal oxide and metalloid, the metal oxide and the metalloid being of (a) and (b). It furthers relates to a particular organic material and a process of manufacturing the same.

A metal boride aerogel includes a three-dimensional aerogel structure comprising metal boride particles having an average diameter of less than one micron. A method is disclosed for forming a metal boride aerogel including dispersing boron nanoparticles in a solution of a metal salt, forming a boron-loaded metal oxide precursor gel using the dispersed boron nanoparticles in the solution of the metal salt, drying the boron-loaded metal oxide precursor gel to form a boron-loaded metal oxide precursor aerogel, and heating the boron-loaded metal oxide precursor aerogel to form a metal boride aerogel. The metal boride aerogel is essentially free of metal oxide.

The present disclosure discloses a ceramic material having a positive slow release effect and a method for manufacturing the same. The ceramic material comprises a hierarchically meso-macroporous structure which composition at least includes silicon and oxygen, wherein the hierarchically meso-macroporous structure includes a plurality of macropores and a wall having a plurality of arranged mesopores, and the plurality of macropores are separated by the wall; and nano-scale metal particles confined in at least one of the plurality of arranged mesopores. The nano-scale metal particles have a positive slow release effect from the at least one of the plurality of arranged mesopores. The ceramic material has a property of inhibiting growth of microorganisms or killing the microorganisms in an environment or a system containing a hydrophilic medium.

The present disclosure discloses a ceramic material having a positive slow release effect and a method for manufacturing the same. The ceramic material comprises a hierarchically meso-macroporous structure which composition at least includes silicon and oxygen, wherein the hierarchically meso-macroporous structure includes a plurality of macropores and a wall having a plurality of arranged mesopores, and the plurality of macropores are separated by the wall; and nano-scale metal particles confined in at least one of the plurality of arranged mesopores. The nano-scale metal particles have a positive slow release effect from the at least one of the plurality of arranged mesopores. The ceramic material has a property of inhibiting growth of microorganisms or killing the microorganisms in an environment or a system containing a hydrophilic medium.

A heat insulating material includes an aerogel that has macro-pores and meso-pores. A method for manufacturing a heat insulating material, including: a sol preparation step of adding a gelling agent into sodium silicate such that a molar ratio of the gelling agent relative to NaO.sub.2 is 0.1 to 0.75, and adjusting a sol into which macro-pores are introduced by leaving unreacted Na and non-cross-linked oxygen in a siloxane skeleton; an impregnating and gelling step of impregnating a nonwoven fabric fiber structure with the sol to form a composite of hydrogel-nonwoven fabric fiber; a hydrophobizating step of mixing the formed composite of hydrogel-nonwoven fabric fiber with a silylating agent to modify a surface thereof; and a drying step of removing a liquid contained in the surface modified composite of hydrogel-nonwoven fabric fiber by drying under a temperature and pressure lower than respective critical values.

A heat insulating material includes an aerogel that has macro-pores and meso-pores. A method for manufacturing a heat insulating material, including: a sol preparation step of adding a gelling agent into sodium silicate such that a molar ratio of the gelling agent relative to NaO.sub.2 is 0.1 to 0.75, and adjusting a sol into which macro-pores are introduced by leaving unreacted Na and non-cross-linked oxygen in a siloxane skeleton; an impregnating and gelling step of impregnating a nonwoven fabric fiber structure with the sol to form a composite of hydrogel-nonwoven fabric fiber; a hydrophobizating step of mixing the formed composite of hydrogel-nonwoven fabric fiber with a silylating agent to modify a surface thereof; and a drying step of removing a liquid contained in the surface modified composite of hydrogel-nonwoven fabric fiber by drying under a temperature and pressure lower than respective critical values.

A jointless concrete slab set by pouring a concrete slurry includes a) a concrete mixture; b) a colloidal silica admixture; and c) at least one reinforcing fiber selected from the group of fibers. As the poured concrete slurry cures, the poured slurry hardens into a composite material slab, and the jointless concrete slab defines capillary structures that at least in part fill with silica particles and lime, to produce a gel structure of calcium silicate hydrate. In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention is directed to a process for placing a jointless fiberless slab. The process comprises the steps of a) preparing a concrete slurry; b) pouring the concrete slurry onto the substrate; and c) allowing the concrete slurry to cure. In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention is directed to the product itself; namely, a jointless and/or fiberless concrete slab.