The invention relates to a process for preparing a gelled, dried composition forming a monolithic aerogel with a heat conductivity of less than or equal to 40 mW.Math.m.sup.1.Math.K.sup.1 and derived from a resin of polyhydroxybenzene(s) and formaldehyde(s), to this aerogel composition and to the use thereof. This process comprises: a) polymerization in an aqueous solvent of said polyhydroxybenzene(s) and formaldehyde(s) in the presence of an acidic or basic catalyst, to obtain a solution based on the resin, b) gelation of the solution obtained in a) to obtain a gel of the resin, and c) drying of the gel to obtain a dried gel.

According to the invention, step a) is performed in the presence of a cationic polyelectrolyte dissolved in this solvent, and the process also comprises a step d) of heat treatment under inert gas of the dried gel obtained in step c) at temperatures of between 150 C. and 500 C. to obtain the non-pyrolyzed aerogel whose heat conductivity is substantially unchanged, even after exposure to a humid atmosphere.

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 an organic aerogel obtained by reacting an amine compound having at least two amine functionalities and a cyclic ether compound in the presence of a solvent. An organic aerogel according to the present invention is produced with a versatile process and provides good thermal and acoustic insulation and good mechanical properties.

The invention relates to a process for preparing a gelled, dried composition forming a monolithic aerogel with a heat conductivity of less than or equal to 40 mW.Math.m.sup.1.Math.K.sup.1 and derived from a resin of polyhydroxybenzene(s) and formaldehyde(s), to this aerogel composition and to the use thereof. This process comprises: a) polymerization in an aqueous solvent of said polyhydroxybenzene(s) and formaldehyde(s) in the presence of an acidic or basic catalyst, to obtain a solution based on the resin, b) gelation of the solution obtained in a) to obtain a gel of the resin, and c) drying of the gel to obtain a dried gel. According to the invention, step a) is performed in the presence of a cationic polyelectrolyte dissolved in this solvent, and the process also comprises a step d) of heat treatment under inert gas of the dried gel obtained in step c) at temperatures of between 150 C. and 500 C. to obtain the non-pyrolyzed aerogel whose heat conductivity is substantially unchanged, even after exposure to a humid atmosphere.

A non-crosslinked, gelled carbonaceous composition and a pyrolyzed composition respectively forming an aqueous polymer gel and the pyrolysate thereof in the form of porous carbon is provided. Also provided is a production method thereof, to a porous carbon electrode formed by the pyrolyzed composition, and to a supercapacitor containing the electrodes. The gelled, non-crosslinked composition (G2) is based on a resin created at least partly from polyhydroxybenzene(s) R and formaldehyde(s) F and comprises at least one hydrosoluble cationic polyelectrolyte P. The composition forms a rheofluidifying physical gel. A pyrolyzed carbonaceous composition having a carbon monolith, is the product of coating, crosslinking, drying then pyrolysis of the non-crosslinked gelled composition, the carbon monolith being predominantly microporous and able to form a supercapacitor electrode having a thickness of less than 1 mm.

The patent provides a superabsorbent polymer hydrogel xerogel sponge and a preparation method and an application thereof. The sponge is a three-dimensional network porous sponge with chitosan as its skeleton, superabsorbent polymer as its branched chain, and macromolecule or polymer with flexible structure as its cross-linking agent. The sponge can be prepared by a one-pot method. The product has porous structure, having the characteristic of superabsorbent and maintaining integrity and certain mechanical strength after water absorption. The material can be used in the emergency hemostasis of large arteriovenous hemorrhage. The effect is better than that of the existing materials in the market. The superabsorbent hydrogel xerogel sponge provided by the invention has the advantages of simple preparation process, low cost. The product has outstanding hemostatic effect, good safety, with no heat production and no residue, and has significant medical value and industrial potential.

Organic polymer aerogels, articles of manufacture, and uses thereof are described. The aerogels include an organic polymer matrix and microstructures dispersed within the aerogels, which provides for superior thermal conductivity and mechanical properties.

The invention relates to a noncrosslinked gelled carbonaceous composition and a pyrolyzed composition respectively forming an aqueous polymer gel and the pyrolysate thereof in the form of porous carbon. The invention also relates to the production method thereof, to a porous carbon electrode formed by the pyrolyzed composition, and to a supercapacitor containing said electrodes. The gelled, noncrosslinked composition (G2) is based on a resin created at least partly from polyhydroxybenzene(s) R and formaldehyde(s) F and comprises at least one hydrosoluble cationic polyelectrolyte P. According to the invention, the composition forms a rheofluidifying physical gel. A pyrolyzed carbonaceous composition according to the invention, consisting of a carbon monolith, is the product of coating, crosslinking, drying and pyrolysis of the non-crosslinked gelled composition, the carbon monolith being predominantly microporous and able to form a supercapacitor electrode having a thickness of less than 1 mm.

The present disclosure is directed to methods of forming polyimide gels. The methods generally include forming a polyamic acid and dehydrating the polyamic acid with a dehydrating agent in the presence of water. The resulting polyimide gels may be converted to polyimide or carbon xerogels or aerogels. The methods are advantageous in providing rapid or even instantaneous gelation, which may be particularly useful in formation of beads comprising the polyimide gels. Polyimide or carbon gel materials prepared according to the disclosed method are suitable for use in environments containing electrochemical reactions, for example as an electrode material within a lithium-ion battery.