The present disclosure provides composites comprising an open cell foam and a small pore area material, methods for their preparation, articles of manufacture comprising them and methods for preparing the same.

The present disclosure provides composites comprising an open cell foam and a small pore area material, methods for their preparation, articles of manufacture comprising them and methods for preparing the same.

A foaming process for converting fibrous material into a cellular foam structure includes mixing fibrous material and a solvent-based binding agent to form a mixture; saturating the mixture with a pressurized gas to form a gas-saturated mixture; expanding the gas-saturated mixture by reducing the pressure of the pressurized gas to form an expanded mixture with voids in the fibrous material; and curing the expanded mixture to set the fibrous material and drive off the solvent to provide a stable network of fibrous material having cushioning properties.

A foaming process for converting fibrous material into a cellular foam structure includes mixing fibrous material and a solvent-based binding agent to form a mixture; saturating the mixture with a pressurized gas to form a gas-saturated mixture; expanding the gas-saturated mixture by reducing the pressure of the pressurized gas to form an expanded mixture with voids in the fibrous material; and curing the expanded mixture to set the fibrous material and drive off the solvent to provide a stable network of fibrous material having cushioning properties.

Provided are composite particles in which reinforcing fibers adhere to the surface of thermoplastic resin expanded beads via a thermosetting resin being in an uncured state, a cured product of the composite particles, an in-mold molded article of the composite particles, a laminate of the composite particles and a reinforcing fiber sheet material, a composite of the composite particles, and a method for producing composite particles.

Provided are composite particles in which reinforcing fibers adhere to the surface of thermoplastic resin expanded beads via a thermosetting resin being in an uncured state, a cured product of the composite particles, an in-mold molded article of the composite particles, a laminate of the composite particles and a reinforcing fiber sheet material, a composite of the composite particles, and a method for producing composite particles.

A composite foam is provided having silica aerogel particles dispersed in a closed cell polymeric foam. The silica aerogel particles are included in a volume fraction between 2 and 60%, and the composite foam has a thermal conductivity of 40 kW/mK or less and a density of 60 kg/m.sup.3 or less. In another embodiment, a composite foam is provided having a perforated closed cell polymeric foam and 2-60% hydrophobic silica aerogel particles by volume with a particle size distribution of 1 to 50 m, where the composite foam has a thermal conductivity of 30 kW/mK or less, a density of 20-45 kg/m.sup.3, and an air permeability of 20-40 cubic feet per minute.

A composite foam is provided having silica aerogel particles dispersed in a closed cell polymeric foam. The silica aerogel particles are included in a volume fraction between 2 and 60%, and the composite foam has a thermal conductivity of 40 kW/mK or less and a density of 60 kg/m.sup.3 or less. In another embodiment, a composite foam is provided having a perforated closed cell polymeric foam and 2-60% hydrophobic silica aerogel particles by volume with a particle size distribution of 1 to 50 m, where the composite foam has a thermal conductivity of 30 kW/mK or less, a density of 20-45 kg/m.sup.3, and an air permeability of 20-40 cubic feet per minute.

Blends, polyol premix compositions, methods of forming such compositions, foamable compositions using the premix compositions, methods of preparing foams containing the premix compositions, and foams made using the premix compositions are described. The polyol premix composition includes a polyester polyol; halogenated olefin blowing agent; and a distribution-enhancing component. In the polyol premix composition, the blowing agent, the polyester polyol, and the distribution-enhancing component form a substantially uniform composition.

Blends, polyol premix compositions, methods of forming such compositions, foamable compositions using the premix compositions, methods of preparing foams containing the premix compositions, and foams made using the premix compositions are described. The polyol premix composition includes a polyester polyol; halogenated olefin blowing agent; and a distribution-enhancing component. In the polyol premix composition, the blowing agent, the polyester polyol, and the distribution-enhancing component form a substantially uniform composition.