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.

An organic polymer aerogel that includes an organic polymer gel matrix and microstructures dispersed or embedded within the aerogel is disclosed. The aerogel can have an at least bimodal pore size distribution comprising a first peak of less than or equal to 65 nm and a second peak greater than or equal to 100 nm.

A (super)hydrophobic isocyanate based organic aerogel/xerogel/cryogel having a water contact angle of at least 90° comprising: a cross-linked porous network structure made of polyurethane and/or polyisocyanurate and/or polyurea, and hydrophobic compounds having before the gelling step at least one isocyanate-reactive group and no isocyanate groups
Characterized in that said hydrophobic compounds are covalently bonded within the porous network of the aerogel/xerogel/cryogel and wherein said bondings are created during the gelling step of the formation of the isocyanate based organic aerogel/xerogel/cryogel cross-linked porous network structure.

The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of a nano- and/or microscale cellulose-based foam. The method comprises the steps of (i) providing a suspension (1) comprising nano- and/or microscale cellulose in an aqueous medium, (ii) simultaneously cooling and agitating the suspension (1) in a mechanical step (2a; 2b) to obtain an at least partially frozen suspension. (iii) freezing the at least partially frozen suspension (5) to obtain a substantially frozen suspension, (iv) treating the suspension under solvent-exchange (7; 8) and (v) removing the solvent (10; 13) to obtain a substantially dry foam (40A) comprising nano- and/or microscale cellulose.

An organic polymer aerogel that includes an organic polymer gel matrix and microstructures dispersed or embedded within the aerogel is disclosed. The aerogel can have an at least bimodal pore size distribution comprising a first peak of less than or equal to 65 nm and a second peak greater than or equal to 100 nm.

Thermally treated aerogel compositions that include polyamic amides in an amount less than the aerogel compositions that include polyamic amides prior to thermal treatment, and articles of manufacture that include or are manufactured from the aerogel compositions are described.

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 is directed to a process for preparing a porous material, at least comprising the steps of providing a gel comprising a solvent (S), wherein the solvent (S) has a volume (V1), pressurizing the gel with carbon dioxide at a temperature and a pressure at which carbon dioxide solubilizes in the solvent (S) forming gas-expanded liquid (EL), wherein the gas-expanded liquid (EL) has a volume (V2) and (V2) is greater than (V1); removing supernatant liquid, and drying the gel. The present invention further is directed to the porous material obtained or obtainable according to the process as such as the use of the porous material according to the invention in particular for medical, biomedical and pharmaceutical applications or for thermal insulation.

Thermally treated aerogel compositions that include polyamic amides in an amount less than the aerogel compositions that include polyamic amides prior to thermal treatment, and articles of manufacture that include or are manufactured from the aerogel compositions are described.

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.