Nanoporous three-dimensional networks of polyurethane particles, e.g., polyurethane aerogels, and methods of preparation are presented herein. Such nanoporous networks may include polyurethane particles made up of linked polyisocyanate and polyol monomers. In some cases, greater than about 95% of the linkages between the polyisocyanate monomers and the polyol monomers are urethane linkages. To prepare such networks, a mixture including polyisocyanate monomers (e.g., diisocyanates, triisocyanates), polyol monomers (diols, triols), and a solvent is provided. The polyisocyanate and polyol monomers may be aliphatic or aromatic. A polyurethane catalyst is added to the mixture causing formation of linkages between the polyisocyanate monomers and the polyol monomers. Phase separation of particles from the reaction medium can be controlled to enable formation of polyurethane networks with desirable nanomorphologies, specific surface area, and mechanical properties. Various properties of such networks of polyurethane particles (e.g., strength, stiffness, flexibility, thermal conductivity) may be tailored depending on which monomers are provided in the reaction.

A porous material including a composite oxide body containing calcium oxide, iron oxide, and silica, and a plurality of inter-connecting microchannel structures is provided. A preparing method of porous material is further provided. With the inter-connecting microchannel structures of the porous material and the advantages of high porosity and large specific surface area, the porous material has a bright prospect in the fields of catalysts, filters, adsorption materials, and fuel carriers.

A product includes an aerogel having a single bulk structure, the single bulk structure having at least one dimension greater than 10 millimeters. The single bulk structure includes a plurality of pores, where each pore has a largest diameter defined as a greatest distance between pore walls of the respective pore. In addition, an average of the largest diameters of a majority of the pores is within a specified range, and the plurality of pores are distributed substantially homogenously throughout the single bulk structure.

A product includes an aerogel having a single bulk structure, the single bulk structure having at least one dimension greater than 10 millimeters. The single bulk structure includes a plurality of pores, where each pore has a largest diameter defined as a greatest distance between pore walls of the respective pore. In addition, an average of the largest diameters of a majority of the pores is within a specified range, and the plurality of pores are distributed substantially homogenously throughout the single bulk structure.

A carbon foam formed of carbon fibers, where, at 90% or more of any 20 locations, the carbon fibers have a fiber diameter that is within ±20% of an average fiber diameter.

A carbon foam formed of carbon fibers, where, at 90% or more of any 20 locations, the carbon fibers have a fiber diameter that is within ±20% of an average fiber diameter.

A carbon-based porous material microscopically exhibiting a three-dimension 1 cross-linked net-like hierarchical pore structure, a specific surface area of 500˜2,500 m.sup.2/g and a water contact angle greater than 90°. The surface of the carbon-based porous material has a through hierarchical pore structure with mesopores nested in macropores and micropores nested in mesopores, the content of mesopores is high, and there are more adsorption activity sites exposed on the surface of the material, so that the diffusion path for organic gas molecules in the adsorption process is shortened. At the same time, the absorption and desorption rates may also be accelerated and the desorption temperature may be lowered. Furthermore, benefits result for solving the desorption and recovery problems of organic gas molecules. Moreover, the defects of ordinary porous carbon materials being easily hygroscopic, having a weakened capacity to adsorb target gas molecules in a humid environment, etc. are further effectively solved.

A carbon-based porous material microscopically exhibiting a three-dimension 1 cross-linked net-like hierarchical pore structure, a specific surface area of 500˜2,500 m.sup.2/g and a water contact angle greater than 90°. The surface of the carbon-based porous material has a through hierarchical pore structure with mesopores nested in macropores and micropores nested in mesopores, the content of mesopores is high, and there are more adsorption activity sites exposed on the surface of the material, so that the diffusion path for organic gas molecules in the adsorption process is shortened. At the same time, the absorption and desorption rates may also be accelerated and the desorption temperature may be lowered. Furthermore, benefits result for solving the desorption and recovery problems of organic gas molecules. Moreover, the defects of ordinary porous carbon materials being easily hygroscopic, having a weakened capacity to adsorb target gas molecules in a humid environment, etc. are further effectively solved.

A method of pitch infiltration of a densified preform may comprise disposing a pitch on a densified preform surface; heating the pitch and making the pitch into an anisotropic network structure; guiding the pitch through the densified preform in a predetermined direction; aligning the pitch in a predetermined orientation; and stabilizing the pitch. The method may result in a carbon/carbon part having increase wear life, enhanced oxidation protection, and/or reduced moisture sensitivity.

A method of pitch infiltration of a densified preform may comprise disposing a pitch on a densified preform surface; heating the pitch and making the pitch into an anisotropic network structure; guiding the pitch through the densified preform in a predetermined direction; aligning the pitch in a predetermined orientation; and stabilizing the pitch. The method may result in a carbon/carbon part having increase wear life, enhanced oxidation protection, and/or reduced moisture sensitivity.