The invention relates to a method for producing an aerogel material with a porosity of at least 0.55 and an average pore size of 10 nm to 500 nm, having the following steps: a) preparing and optionally activating a sol; b) filling the sol into a casting mold (10); c) gelling the sol, whereby a gel is produced, and subsequently aging the gel; at least one of the following steps d) and e), d) substituting the pore liquid with a solvent; e) chemically modifying the aged and optionally solvent-substituted gel (6) using a reaction agent; followed by f) drying the gel, whereby the aerogel material is formed. The casting mold used in step b) is provided with a plurality of channel-forming elements (2) which are designed such that the sol filled into the casting mold lies overall at a maximum distance X from a channel-forming element over a specified minimum length L defined in the channel direction of the elements, with the proviso that X<15 mm and L/X>3.

The present invention provides a polyfunctional phenolic resin and a polyfunctional epoxy resin having low viscosity and having excellent mechanical properties and heat resistance of a cured product to be obtained, a curable resin composition containing these, and a cured product thereof. Specifically, provided are a polyfunctional phenolic resin formed with a naphthol structure optionally having a substituent on an aromatic ring and a catechol structure optionally having a methyl group as a substituent on an aromatic ring bonded together via a methylene group optionally having a substituent, a polyfunctional epoxy resin obtained by epoxidizing the polyfunctional phenolic resin, a curable resin composition containing any of these, and a cured product thereof.

A method for producing a composite material, includes: immersing a carbon fiber bundle, including continuous carbon fibers, in a dispersion in which carbon nanotubes are dispersed in water, alcohol, or organic solvent; applying a tensile force to the carbon fibers, which are linearly arranged, using flat rollers; moving the carbon fibers linearly, under the tensile force by the flat rollers, at a constant depth inside the dispersion at a traveling speed of 1 to 20 m/min, such that the carbon nanotubes in the dispersion are adhered to respective surfaces of the carbon fibers; and applying a sizing agent to cover at least a part of the respective surfaces.

A foamable composition for injecting in a region of a ship, for example to prevent and/or reduce water ingress and/or progressive flooding in the ship so as to improve damage stability of the ship, is foamable to form a foam and is dissolvable in a removal composition. The provision of a foam, which can be dissolved by application of a removal composition, e.g., a solvent, may improve ease of removal of the foam, and therefore may reduce the cost and/or speed of reinstatement of the ship. The present invention also relates to a method of improving damage stability of a ship, the method comprising identifying one or more regions of the ship where injection of a material may lead to increase in ship stability, the material being impermeable to water and/or being capable of preventing migration of water.

A process for the manufacture of a reinforced product comprising a matrix based on a composition and at least one reinforcing element, the reinforcing elements being embedded in the matrix, comprises: mixing of the composition based on: a compound A1 with a melting point T1, and a compound A2 with a melting point T2, at a temperature Tm such that: T1≤Tm<T2, so as to dissolve A2 in A1 and to obtain the composition in the liquid state; submerging of the reinforcing element(s) (36) in the composition; and crosslinking by heating of the composition at a temperature Tn such that: T1≤Tm<Tn.

Fiber-reinforced organic polymer aerogels, articles of manufacture and uses thereof are described. The reinforced aerogels include a fiber-reinforced organic polymer matrix having an at least bimodal pore size distribution with a first mode of pores having an average pore size of less than or equal to 50 nanometers (nm) and a second mode of pores having an average pore size of greater than 50 nm and a thermal conductivity of less than or equal to 30 mW/m.Math.K at a temperature of 20° C.

The present invention provides a polyfunctional phenolic resin and a polyfunctional epoxy resin having low viscosity and having excellent mechanical properties and heat resistance of a cured product to be obtained, a curable resin composition containing these, and a cured product thereof. Specifically, provided are a polyfunctional phenolic resin formed with a naphthol structure optionally having a substituent on an aromatic ring and a catechol structure optionally having a methyl group as a substituent on an aromatic ring bonded together via a methylene group optionally having a substituent, a polyfunctional epoxy resin obtained by epoxidizing the polyfunctional phenolic resin, a curable resin composition containing any of these, and a cured product thereof.

A fiber-reinforced aerogel is disclosed. The aerogel can include a porous organic polymer matrix and fibers included in the porous organic polymer matrix. The aerogel can include a thermal conductivity of less than or equal to 60 mWIm.Math.K at a temperature of 20° C., at least a bimodal pore size distribution with a first mode of pores having an average pore size of less than or equal to 50 nanometers (nm) and a second mode of pores having an average pore size of greater than 50 nm, and a planar shape having a thickness of 5 millimeters (mm) or less and is capable of being rolled up into a roll, wherein the fibers form a woven fiber matrix.

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.

Fiber-reinforced organic polymer aerogels, articles of manufacture and uses thereof are described. The reinforced aerogels include a fiber-reinforced organic polymer matrix having an at least bimodal pore size distribution with a first mode of pores having an average pore size of less than or equal to 50 nanometers (nm) and a second mode of pores having an average pore size of greater than 50 nm and a thermal conductivity of less than or equal to 30 mW/m.Math.K at a temperature of 20° C.