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 relates to a method of forming a foam material, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing an aqueous dispersion comprising polymer particles and a functional filler dispersed in the aqueous phase, and b) lyophilising the aqueous dispersion, to thereby form the foam material. The invention also relates to a foam material produced by the method, and uses of the foam material, for example in anti-static casings, electrode materials, support elements, insulators, catalysis, as membranes for water filtration, implantable materials for biomedical engineering and electromagnetic interference shielding.

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.

Novel absorbable foams, lyophilizing solutions, and lyophilizing and annealing processes are disclosed. The foams are made from copolymers of glycolide and epsilon-caprolactone. The foams are useful in or as implantable medical devices.

Novel absorbable foams, lyophilizing solutions, and lyophilizing and annealing processes are disclosed. The foams are made from copolymers of glycolide and epsilon-caprolactone. The foams are useful in or as implantable medical devices.

An amino-containing silica particle is provided. The amino-containing silica particle is obtained by hydrolysis-condensation reaction of an alkoxy silane represented by formula (I), an alkoxy silane represented by formula (II) and a catalyst:

Si(OR.sup.1).sub.4formula (I)

(NH.sub.2Y).sub.mSi(OR.sup.2).sub.4-mformula (II)

wherein in formula (I), R.sup.1 is a C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl group, and in formula (II), Y is a C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl group or a C.sub.2-C.sub.10 alkenyl group, R.sup.2 is a C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl group, and m is an integer of 1 to 3.

The present disclosure provides an aerogel formed of a tannin-containing porous material including a polymeric material, a tannin, and a clay. In some embodiments, the tannin-containing porous material is produced by forming an aerogel precursor including a polymeric material, a tannin, and a liquid dispersion medium; freezing the aerogel precursor; and freeze drying. In other embodiments, the tannin-containing porous material is produced by coating a formed porous aerogel material with a tannin-containing coating solution including tannin dispersed therein. The aerogel provides a flame retardant material having improved mechanical properties.

The present invention discloses a versatile, macroporous, omniphilic polymeric sponges for absorption of organic liquids of varying polarity as well as water. Particularly, disclosed herein is an ice-templated macroporous omniphilic polymeric sponge as inexpensive versatile absorbents.

Aerogel compositions, methods for preparing the aerogel compositions, articles of manufacture that include or are made from the aerogel compositions are described and uses thereof. The aerogels include a branched polyimide matrix with little to no crosslinked polymers.

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.