An aerogel comprising an open-cell structured polymer matrix that includes a polyamic amide polymer is described.

A method of making an aerogel is described. The method can include obtaining a solution comprising polyamic acid and an imidazole, adding a dehydrating agent to the solution in an amount where the molar ratio of the imidazole to the dehydrating agent is 0.17:1 to 2.8:1 and reacting the solution at room temperature to 100? C. to produce a polymer matrix gel comprising a polyamic amide, and drying the polymer matrix gel to form an aerogel comprising an open-cell structured polymer matrix that includes 5 wt. % to 50 wt. % of the polyamic amide based on the total weight of the polymer aerogel.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a porous material, at least comprising the steps of providing a mixture (I) comprising a water soluble polysaccharide, at least one compound suitable to react as cross-linker for the polysaccharide or to release a cross-linker for the polysaccharide, and water, and preparing a gel (A) comprising exposing mixture (I) to carbon dioxide at a pressure in the range of from 20 to 100 bar for a time sufficient to form a gel (A), and depressurizing the gel (A). Gel (A) subsequently is exposed to a water miscible solvent (L) to obtain a gel (B), which is dried. 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, for cosmetic applications, for biomedical applications or for pharmaceutical applications.

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.

Disclosed are cellulose-based flexible gels containing cellulose nanorods, ribbons, fibers, and the like, and cellulose-enabled inorganic or polymeric composites, wherein the gels have tunable optical, heat transfer, and stiffness properties. The disclosed gels are in the form of hydrogels, organogels, liquid-crystal (LC) gels, and aerogels, depending on the solvents in the gels.

The present invention aims to provide a method for producing a porous tissue regeneration substrate that allows a wide choice of solvents and easy adjustment of the bulk density and pore size of the porous substrate. The present invention also aims to provide a method for producing an artificial blood vessel and an artificial blood vessel. The present invention relates a porous, tubular artificial blood vessel containing a bioabsorbable material, the artificial blood vessel including: a skin layer having a relatively small pore size as an innermost layer; and a porous layer positioned around the skin layer and having a relatively large pore size.

A method of making a porous material is provided. The method includes: preparing a mixture including a sugar, a polymer, and at least one soluble metal source, in water; heating the mixture to obtain a gelled material; thermally curing the gelled material to obtain a cured material; and annealing at least a part of the cured material to obtain a porous material that includes metal nanoparticles, where the metal nanoparticles include at least one metal from the at least one soluble metal source. The porous material can include: sheets of multilayer graphene layers; metal nanoparticles dispersed among the sheets and encapsulated by layers of graphene; and macropores, mesopores or micropores, or any combination thereof, throughout the porous material and on its surface. Methods of using the porous material to separate contaminants from water are also provided.

Disclosed is an aerogel having an open-cell structured polymer matrix that includes 5 wt. % to 50 wt. % of a polyamic amide polymer, based on the total weight of the aerogel, wherein the aerogel includes pores and at least 90% of the pore volume of the aerogel is made up of pores with an average pore diameter of 100 nanometers (nm) to less than 500 nm, wherein the aerogel has a porosity of at least 80%, as measure according to ASTM D4404-10, wherein the aerogel has a density of 0.05 g/cm.sup.3 to 0.5 g/cm.sup.3, and wherein the aerogel is thermally stable to resist browning at 330? C.

Disclosed are cellulose-based flexible gels containing cellulose nanorods, ribbons, fibers, and the like, and cellulose-enabled inorganic or polymeric composites, wherein the gels have tunable optical, heat transfer, and stiffness properties. The disclosed gels are in the form of hydrogels, organogels, liquid-crystal (LC) gels, and aerogels, depending on the solvents in the gels.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a porous material, at least comprising the steps of providing a mixture (I) comprising a water soluble polysaccharide, at least one compound suitable to react as cross-linker for the polysaccharide or to release a cross-linker for the polysaccharide, and water, and preparing a gel (A) comprising exposing mixture (I) to carbon dioxide at a pressure in the range of from 20 to 100 bar for a time sufficient to form a gel (A), and depressurizing the gel (A). Gel (A) subsequently is exposed to a water miscible solvent (L) to obtain a gel (B), which is dried. 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, for cosmetic applications, for biomedical applications or for pharmaceutical applications.