The present invention relates generally to methods of producing, using, and storing stable aqueously dispersed superhydrophobic compositions made from these compositions to provide superhydrophobic treatments on a range of porous, semi-porous, and non-porous target materials and surfaces as well as combinations of these materials and surfaces. More particularly, the present invention provides stably dispersed waterborne superhydrophobic compositions comprising colloidal silica or hydrophobically-modified silicon dioxide (i.e., silica) and one or more additional agents and/or compounds. When the compositions of the present invention are applied (e.g., via spray deposition, immersion, liquid application, and the like) to a suitable target material and/or surface the target is imparted with a durable (super)hydrophobic coating.

Provided herein are various ice melt compositions, processes, and systems that utilize a porous silica amalgamate composition to provide an environmentally friendly ice melt and freezing point depression composition when in contact with ice and/or snow. In addition, the porous silica amalgamate composition provides traction enhancement on slippery surfaces. In embodiments, the porous silica amalgamate can reabsorb active ingredient(s) during the liquid drying phase to provide potential secondary and tertiary uses. Further disclosed herein are methods of using and making the treatment compositions.

A method of fabricating the organic-inorganic hybrid coating layer includes: preparing a gel mixture including an organic precursor and colloidal silica particles; preparing a first mixed solution by heating the gel mixture; preparing a second mixed solution by adding quantum dots to the first mixed solution; and coating the second mixed solution on a substrate and irradiating light thereon to form a polymer matrix in which the organic precursor and the colloidal silica particles are crosslinked, and preparing a coating layer in which the quantum dots are dispersed in the polymer matrix, wherein the organic precursor may include at least one of dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate (DPPA) or dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate (DPHA).

A method of fabricating the organic-inorganic hybrid coating layer includes: preparing a gel mixture including an organic precursor and colloidal silica particles; preparing a first mixed solution by heating the gel mixture; preparing a second mixed solution by adding quantum dots to the first mixed solution; and coating the second mixed solution on a substrate and irradiating light thereon to form a polymer matrix in which the organic precursor and the colloidal silica particles are crosslinked, and preparing a coating layer in which the quantum dots are dispersed in the polymer matrix, wherein the organic precursor may include at least one of dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate (DPPA) or dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate (DPHA).

There is provided a method of preparing silica nanocapsules, the method comprising mixing a surfactant with water at a temperature that is above the gel-to-liquid transition temperature of the surfactant to form a mixture, passing the mixture one or more times through at least one pore to obtain a dispersion of vesicles, and adding a silica precursor to the dispersion of vesicles to form silica nanocapsules. Also provided is a silica nanocapsule formed from a vesicle template, and a method of delivering one or more types of molecules to a subject. In a specific embodiment, hollow silica nanocapsules having substantially lens-shaped are synthesized by employing dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide (DODAB) or dioctadecyldimethyl ammonium chloride (DODAC) as the vesicle template and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as the silica precursor.

The present disclosure relates to a combined treatment method for surface modification of fumed silica, which comprises the following steps: (1) two sets of modification devices are used to jointly treat fumed silica; the fumed silica is modified with a modifier in the reaction furnace of each set of modification devices to obtain two groups of modified fumed silica and exhaust gas respectively; (2) the exhaust gas obtained in step (1) is separated respectively to obtain unreacted modifier and by-products, and the obtained by-products are input into the reaction furnace of the other set of modification devices as reaction assistants to participate in the modification reaction; and the obtained unreacted modifiers are returned to the reaction furnace of the original modification device for repeated use.

The present invention provides a means capable of suppressing the formation of fine particles in a method for producing a silica sol. The present invention relates to a method for producing a silica sol, including synthesizing a silica sol by, in a reaction liquid containing an alkoxysilane or a condensate thereof, water, and an alkali catalyst, allowing the alkoxysilane or condensate thereof to react with the water in the presence of the alkali catalyst, wherein the alkali catalyst is not additionally supplied after the start of the synthesis until the finish time of the synthesis, and during 90% or more of the time between when 5 minutes have elapsed from the time point when the electrical conductivity of the reaction liquid reaches a local maximum for the first time and the finish time of the synthesis, the proportion of the value of the electrical conductivity of the reaction liquid is more than 90% relative to the value of the electrical conductivity at the time when 5 minutes have elapsed from the time point when the local maximum is reached.

The present invention provides a means capable of suppressing the formation of fine particles in a method for producing a silica sol. The present invention relates to a method for producing a silica sol, including synthesizing a silica sol by, in a reaction liquid containing an alkoxysilane or a condensate thereof, water, and an alkali catalyst, allowing the alkoxysilane or condensate thereof to react with the water in the presence of the alkali catalyst, wherein the alkali catalyst is not additionally supplied after the start of the synthesis until the finish time of the synthesis, and during 90% or more of the time between when 5 minutes have elapsed from the time point when the electrical conductivity of the reaction liquid reaches a local maximum for the first time and the finish time of the synthesis, the proportion of the value of the electrical conductivity of the reaction liquid is more than 90% relative to the value of the electrical conductivity at the time when 5 minutes have elapsed from the time point when the local maximum is reached.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a three-dimensional (3D) printed article with a photocurable silicone composition involving a silicone containing as end-group specific (meth)acrylate groups.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a three-dimensional (3D) printed article with a photocurable silicone composition involving a silicone containing as end-group specific (meth)acrylate groups.