Porous cross-linked partially aliphatic polyimide networks are provided. The polyimide networks comprise a polyamic acid oligomer that (i) comprises a repeating unit of a dianhydride and a diamine and terminal functional groups, (ii) has an average degree of polymerization of 10 to 70, (iii) has been cross-linked via a cross-linking agent, comprising three or more cross-linking groups, at a balanced stoichiometry of the cross-linking groups to the terminal functional groups, and (iv) has been chemically imidized to yield the porous cross-linked polyimide network. The polyimide networks are partially aliphatic based on (a) the diamine comprising a first diamine and a second diamine, wherein the first diamine comprises a linear aliphatic backbone chain, and the second diamine does not, and/or (b) the dianhydride comprising a first dianhydride and a second dianhydride, wherein the first dianhydride comprises a linear aliphatic backbone chain, and the second dianhydride does not.

The present invention provides articles and methods related to insulation panels made from aerogels, and specifically polyimide based aerogels. Such insulation panels have a wide variety of applications, including specifically in aerospace applications.

The present invention relates to a process for producing porous materials, which comprises providing a mixture comprising a composition (A) comprising components suitable to form an organic gel and a solvent mixture (B), reacting the components in the composition (A) in the presence of the solvent mixture (B) to form a gel and drying of the gel, wherein the solvent mixture (B) is a mixture of at least two solvents and the solvent mixture has a Hansen solubility parameter ?.sub.H in the range of 3.0 to 5.0 MPa-.sup.1, determined using the parameter ?.sub.H of each solvent of the solvent mixture (B). The invention further relates to the porous materials which can be obtained in this way and the use of the porous materials as thermal insulation material and in vacuum insulation panels.

Porous three-dimensional networks of polyimide and porous three-dimensional networks of carbon and methods of their manufacture are described. For example, polyimide aerogels are prepared by mixing a dianhydride and a diisocyanate in a solvent comprising a pyrrolidone and acetonitrile at room temperature to form a sol-gel material and supercritically drying the sol-gel material to form the polyimide aerogel. Porous three-dimensional polyimide networks, such as polyimide aerogels, may also exhibit a fibrous morphology. Having a porous three-dimensional polyimide network undergo an additional step of pyrolysis may result in the three dimensional network being converted to a purely carbon skeleton, yielding a porous three-dimensional carbon network. The carbon network, having been derived from a fibrous polyimide network, may also exhibit a fibrous morphology.

A polyamide aerogel and method of making the same is disclosed. The aerogel includes para-substituted monomers without a cross-linking agent.

A method of preparing aerogels/nonwoven composites fireproof and heat-insulating materials with a hydrophobic or hydrophilic surfaces and includes steps as follows. A mixture solution in which alkoxysilane, silicones and silane coupling agents are mixed and stirred is instilled by acidic catalysts for a hydrolysis reaction during which a silane coupling agent solution is added for continuous stirring; a hydrous alkali catalytic (anhydrous alkali catalytic) organic solution is added in the mixture solution for a condensation reaction and development of a silicones-silica aerogels-silane coupling agents aerogel mixture solution; a non-woven felt is impregnated with the mixture solution for development of soft hydrophobic (hydrophilic) aerogels/nonwoven composites fireproof and heat-insulating materials after curing and natural drying. The aerogels/nonwoven composites materials with softness and surface hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity available in mass production are applicable to thermal-insulating materials for high-temp industrial facilities or indoor heat-insulating and fireproof panels of a building structure.

The present invention relates to a benzoxazine based copolymer aerogel obtained by reacting a benzoxazine monomer or oligomer and a comonomer selected from the group consisting of an isocyanate compound, a cyclic ether compound and an acid anhydride compound in a presence of a catalyst and a solvent, wherein said catalyst is an optional ingredient when said comonomer is an acid anhydride compound or an isocyanate compound. Benzoxazine based copolymer aerogel according to the present invention provides high thermal insulation material, while good mechanical properties and performance is maintained.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a porous material, at least comprising the steps of providing a mixture (I) comprising a composition (A) comprising components suitable to form an organic gel and a solvent (B), reacting the components in the composition (A) in the presence of the solvent (B) to form a gel, and drying of the gel obtained in step b), wherein the composition (A) comprises at least one compound (af) comprising phosphorous and at least one functional group which is reactive towards isocyanates. The invention further relates to the porous materials which can be obtained in this way and the use of the porous materials as thermal insulation material and in vacuum insulation panels, in particular in interior or exterior thermal insulation systems as well as in water tank or ice maker insulation systems.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a porous material, at least comprising the steps of providing a mixture (I) comprising a composition (A) comprising components suitable to form an organic gel and a solvent (B), reacting the components in the composition (A) in the presence of the solvent (B) to form a gel, and drying of the gel obtained in step b). According to the present invention, the composition (A) comprises a catalyst system (CS) comprising a component (C1) selected from the group consisting of alkali metal and earth alkali metal salts of a saturated or unsaturated carboxylic acid and a component (C2) selected from the group consisting of ammonium salts of a saturated or unsaturated carboxylic acid and no carboxylic acid is used as a component of the catalyst system. The invention further relates to the porous materials which can be obtained in this way and the use of the porous materials as thermal insulation material and in vacuum insulation panels, in particular in interior or exterior thermal insulation systems as well as in water tank or ice maker insulation systems.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a porous material, at least comprising the steps of providing a mixture (I) comprising a composition (A) comprising components suitable to form an organic gel and a solvent (B), reacting the components in the composition (A) in the presence of the solvent (B) to form a gel, and drying of the gel obtained in step b), wherein the composition (A) comprises a catalyst system (CS) at least comprising a catalyst component (C1) selected from the group consisting of ammonium salts and a carboxylic acid as catalyst component (C2). The invention further relates to the porous materials which can be obtained in this way and the use of the porous materials as thermal insulation material and in vacuum insulation panels and vacuum insulation systems, in particular in interior or exterior thermal insulation systems as well as for the insulation of refrigerators and freezers and in water tank or ice maker insulation systems.