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) at least comprising an isocyanate composition (A*) comprising a polymeric polyfunctional isocyanate as component (ai), a monomeric polyfunctional isocyanate as component (aii), at least one catalyst as component (ac), wherein composition (A) is substantially free of aromatic amines, and a solvent (B), reacting the components in the composition (A) obtaining an organic gel, and drying of the gel obtained in step 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.

Novel urethane-acrylate (UAC) Star monomers and polyurethane-acrylate (PUAC) aerogel polymers derived therefrom are described herein, along with other novel, related monomers and polymers. Also described herein are processes for preparing the UAC Star monomers, the PUAC aerogel polymers, and the other related monomers and polymers. The PUAC and related polymers herein are useful in various applications including in structural and thermal insulation.

A reinforced organic natural fiber composite material having a lambda value in the range 15-35 mW/m.Math.K is disclosed which comprises 25-85% by weight hydrophobic nanoporous particles calculated on the total weight of the composite material, at least 10% by weight organic natural fibers having isocyanate reactive groups calculated on the total weight of the composite material and 1-15% by weight binder selected from a polyurea/polyurethane comprising binder made from emulsifiable polyisocyanate, water and surfactants.

Functionalized isocyanate based organic aerogel/xerogel/cryogel comprising: a cross-linked porous network structure made of polyurethane and/or polyisocyanurate and/or polyurea, comprising on their pore surface before functionalization reactive groups (B) and functionalization molecules having a solubility in water <10 g/L at 20? C. chemically attached to the pore surface of the cross-linked porous network structure wherein said molecules have at least one reactive group (A) being capable of binding to said pore surface (by reaction with groups (B)) and at least one functional group (C) providing the pore surface with the desired functionalization.

The present disclosure generally relates to aerogel materials and methods for producing them.

The present invention relates to a composite material comprising nanoporous particles and at least one binder constructed from at least one isocyanate and at least one polymer P selected from the group consisting of polyvinylamine, poly(meth)acrylic acid, poly(meth)acrylic ester, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylthiol and mixtures thereof, wherein said at least one binder is used in an amount of 0.1 to 20 wt %, based on the amount of nanoporous particles, a composition for producing a composite material of this type, a process for producing a composite material of this type, shaped articles comprising said composite material and the use of said composite material for thermal and/or acoustical insulation.

Aerogels comprising a hydrophobic polyimide moiety, including hydrophobic polyimide aerogels, as well as methods of manufacture and applications thereof, are generally described. ##STR00001##

The present invention discloses novel porous polymeric compositions comprising random copolymers of amides, imides, ureas, and carbamic-anhydrides, useful for the synthesis of monolithic bimodal microporous/macroporous carbon aerogels. It also discloses methods for producing said microporous/macroporous carbon aerogels by the reaction of a polyisocyanate compound and a polycarboxylic acid compound, followed by pyrolytic carbonization, and by reactive etching with CO.sub.2 at elevated temperatures. Also disclosed are methods for using the microporous/macroporous carbon aerogels in the selective capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide.

Example embodiments include an aerogel composition for battery insulation sheets, the aerogel composition including an aerogel, a functional material including a binder, a dispersant, or a combination thereof, and a solvent. The binder includes a first binder including an aqueous polymer binder and a second binder including a fluorocarbon-based binder. Example embodiments also include a method of manufacturing the aerogel composition, a battery insulation sheet formed using the aerogel composition, and a battery module including the aerogel composition.