The invention relates to a porous monolith comprising between 20 wt.-% and 70 wt.-% Ti0 2 relative to the total weight of the monolith, and between 30 wt.-% and 80 wt.-% a refractory oxide, selected from silica, alumina or silica-alumina, relative to the total weight of the monolith, characterized in that said porous monolith has a bulk density of less than 0.19 g/mL.

A method of making a refractory article is provided. The method includes: a) mixing a binder system, a refractory charge, and a second colloidal binder to form an aqueous slurry; b) casting the aqueous slurry into a mold; c) subjecting the mold containing the aqueous slurry to a temperature that is lower than a slurry casting temperature for a time sufficient to form a green strength article; and d) firing the green strength article at a temperature of at least 450 C. for a time sufficient to achieve thermal homogeneity, thereby forming a refractory article. Refractory articles made in accordance with the method have a unique combination of pore structure and mechanical properties.

A method of making a refractory article is provided. The method includes: a) mixing a binder system, a refractory charge, and a second colloidal binder to form an aqueous slurry; b) casting the aqueous slurry into a mold; c) subjecting the mold containing the aqueous slurry to a temperature that is lower than a slurry casting temperature for a time sufficient to form a green strength article; and d) firing the green strength article at a temperature of at least 450 C. for a time sufficient to achieve thermal homogeneity, thereby forming a refractory article. Refractory articles made in accordance with the method have a unique combination of pore structure and mechanical properties.

A thermally-insulating composite material with co-shrinkage in the form of an insulating material formed by the inclusion of microballoons in a matrix material such that the microballoons and the matrix material exhibit co-shrinkage upon processing. The thermally-insulating composite material can be formed by a variety of microballoon-matrix material combinations such as polymer microballoons in a preceramic matrix material. The matrix materials generally contain fine rigid fillers.

A hydrogen gas producing apparatus includes a porous body (100) and a mixed gas source (300). The porous body (100) is permeable to hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide gas, and has a property of being more permeable to hydrogen gas than carbon dioxide gas. The mixed gas source (300) causes a mixed gas including carbon dioxide gas and hydrogen gas to flow into the porous body (100) under a condition that a pressure gradient represented by (P.sub.1P.sub.2)/L is below 50 MPa/m, where L represents the length of the porous body (100) in a direction in which the mixed gas permeates; P.sub.1 represents an inflow pressure of the mixed gas into the porous body (100); and P.sub.2 represents an outflow pressure thereof from the porous body (100).

A hydrogen gas producing apparatus includes a porous body (100) and a mixed gas source (300). The porous body (100) is permeable to hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide gas, and has a property of being more permeable to hydrogen gas than carbon dioxide gas. The mixed gas source (300) causes a mixed gas including carbon dioxide gas and hydrogen gas to flow into the porous body (100) under a condition that a pressure gradient represented by (P.sub.1P.sub.2)/L is below 50 MPa/m, where L represents the length of the porous body (100) in a direction in which the mixed gas permeates; P.sub.1 represents an inflow pressure of the mixed gas into the porous body (100); and P.sub.2 represents an outflow pressure thereof from the porous body (100).

Hydrophobic shaped silica bodies having low density and low thermal conductivity are produced by forming a dispersion of silica in a solution of binder and organic solvent, and removing the solvent and shaping to form a shaped body. The shaped bodies retain their hydrophobicity, are stable with regards to shape, and are useful in acoustic and thermal insulation.

Hydrophobic shaped silica bodies having low density and low thermal conductivity are produced by forming a dispersion of silica in a solution of binder and organic solvent, and removing the solvent and shaping to form a shaped body. The shaped bodies retain their hydrophobicity, are stable with regards to shape, and are useful in acoustic and thermal insulation.

A thermally-insulating composite material with co-shrinkage in the form of an insulating material formed by the inclusion of microballoons in a matrix material such that the microballoons and the matrix material exhibit co-shrinkage upon processing. The thermally-insulating composite material can be formed by a variety of microballoon-matrix material combinations such as polymer microballoons in a preceramic matrix material. The matrix materials generally contain fine rigid fillers.

Disclosed is a method and system for blending a foam modifier with foaming agent on-line, e.g., as may be particularly useful for gypsum or cement slurries. The foam modifier comprises a fatty alcohol that is added to a gypsum or cement slurry that includes foaming agent, such as an alkyl sulfate surfactant. The fatty alcohol can be a C.sub.6-C.sub.16 fatty alcohol in some embodiments. The use of such a foam modifier can be used, for example, to stabilize the foam, reduce waste of foaming agent, improve void size control in the final product, and improve the gypsum board manufacturing process.