Systems and methods for producing aerogel materials are generally described. In certain cases, the methods do not require supercritical drying as part of the manufacturing process. In some cases, certain combinations of materials, solvents, and/or processing steps may be synergistically employed so as to enable manufacture of large (e.g., meter-scale), substantially crack free, and/or mechanically strong aerogel materials.

The present invention generally relates to various polymer solid electrolyte materials suitable for various electrochemical devices and methods for making or using the same. Certain embodiments of the invention are generally directed to solid electrolytes having relatively high ionic conductivity and/or other mechanical or electrical properties, e.g., tensile strength or decomposition potential. Certain aspects include a polymer, a plasticizer, and an electrolyte salt. In some cases, the polymer may exhibit certain structures such as: ##STR00001##
where R.sub.1 can be one of the following groups: ##STR00002##
where n is an integer between 1 and 10000, m is a integer between 1 and 5000, and R.sub.2 to R.sub.6 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, phenyl, benzyl, acryl, epoxy ethyl, isocyanate, cyclic carbonate, lactone, lactam, and vinyl; and * indicates a point of attachment.

A multi-component composition contains a) a polyol component having a1) acrylate polyol and a2) at least one of polyester polyol and polyether polyol, wherein the equivalent ratio of hydroxyl groups of acrylate polyol to hydroxyl groups of the at least one of polyester polyol and polyether polyol is in the range of 0.4 to 3.8, and b) an isocyanate component containing b1) aliphatic polyisocyanate monomer, dimer and/or trimer, and b2) aliphatic polyisocyanate prepolymer, wherein the equivalent ratio of isocyanate groups of aliphatic polyisocyanate monomer, dimer and/or trimer to isocyanate groups of aliphatic polyisocyanate prepolymer is in the range of 0.5 to 2.6. The multi-component composition is suitable for use as a top coat on elastic membranes, in particular roofing membranes, to provide sufficient weathering resistance/protection.

A urea resin composition capable of providing a polyurea foam exhibiting excellent flame retardancy and shape retention during combustion, capable of suppressing deterioration over time in a wet-heat environment, exhibiting excellent adhesion to an adherend during coating, being hardly cracked even if flame contact occurs, and hardly allowing carbonization to proceed to a deep portion of the foam. A urea resin composition comprising a polyisocyanate compound (A), a polyamine compound (B), a trimerization catalyst, a foaming agent, a foam stabilizer, and a flame retardant.

Provided is a latent curing agent, including: porous particles supporting an aluminum chelate compound; and a coating film over surfaces of the porous particles, the coating film containing an aluminum chelate compound and a polymer that contains at least one of a urea bond and an urethane bond, wherein a content of an active aluminum chelate compound is 20% by mass or greater.

A molecularly resilient and high-energy transferable material and method of reinforcing and strengthening substrates with the same. The material includes aliphatic polyurea moieties coated on the surface of a pre-curing or curing epoxy, that may or may not compose a fiber reinforced epoxy (F/E) layer, constituting an isophorone diisocyanate amine (IDA) epoxy-surface modification (reaction) to form an interfacial epoxy-polyurea hybridized-matrix (IEPM) material between the epoxy (that may reside on an F/E layer) and a cured polyurea layer. Through its unique set of molecular vibrational properties, which are designed into the IEPM by controlling the thermodynamic IPA reaction, the chemically bonded and molecularly resilient (regenerative) IEPM material incorporates significant fracture toughness, loss modulus (material damping), and reduced elastic modulus into structural substrates and high-tenacity fibers to which it is adhered.

Porous three-dimensional networks of polyurea and porous three-dimensional networks of carbon and methods of their manufacture are described. In an example, polyurea aerogels are prepared by mixing an triisocyanate with water and a triethylamine to form a sol-gel material and supercritically drying the sol-gel material to form the polyurea aerogel.

Subjecting the polyurea aerogel to a step of pyrolysis may result in a three dimensional network having a carbon skeleton, yielding a carbon aerogel. The density and morphology of polyurea aerogels can be controlled by varying the amount of isocyanate monomer in the initial reaction mixture. A lower density in the aerogel gives rise to a fibrous morphology, whereas a greater density in the aerogel results in a particulate morphology. Polyurea aerogels described herein may also exhibit a reduced flammability.

A (super)hydrophobic isocyanate based organic aerogel/xerogel/cryogel having a water contact angle of at least 90° comprising: a cross-linked porous network structure made of polyurethane and/or polyisocyanurate and/or polyurea, and hydrophobic compounds having before the gelling step at least one isocyanate-reactive group and no isocyanate groups
Characterized in that said hydrophobic compounds are covalently bonded within the porous network of the aerogel/xerogel/cryogel and wherein said bondings are created during the gelling step of the formation of the isocyanate based organic aerogel/xerogel/cryogel cross-linked porous network structure.

The invention pertains to the field of aqueous thickening compositions, particularly for increasing the viscosity of an aqueous paint or varnish composition, a detergent composition or a cosmetic composition, in particular a cosmetic composition comprising ethoxylated surfactant compounds. The composition according to the invention comprises at least 40% by weight of water and combines a particular thickening compound and a nonionic compound comprising at least one hydrophilic saccharide group attached to at least one linear or branched hydrophobic chain.

The present invention generally relates to various polymer solid electrolyte materials suitable for various electrochemical devices and methods for making or using the same. Certain embodiments of the invention are generally directed to solid electrolytes having relatively high ionic conductivity and/or other mechanical or electrical properties, e.g., tensile strength or decomposition potential. Certain aspects include a polymer, a plasticizer, and an electrolyte salt. In some cases, the polymer may exhibit certain structures such as:

##STR00001##

where R.sub.1 can be one of the following groups:

##STR00002##

where n is an integer between 1 and 10000, m is a integer between 1 and 5000, and R.sub.2 to R.sub.6 can each independently be one of the following structures:

##STR00003##