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US 11,111,354 B2Granted
Systems and methods for producing aerogel materials
AssigneeAerogel Technologies, LLC
InventorsStephen A. Steiner, III, Justin S. Griffin, Benjamin H. Wunsch, John N. Schneider
Life of this patent
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Abstract
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.
Claims19
A method of manufacturing an aerogel, comprising:
- freezing a solvent within a precursor gel material comprising the solvent;
- and
- sublimating the solvent at about atmospheric pressure to produce the aerogel;
- wherein:
- the solvent comprises tert-butanol,
- the aerogel has at least one dimension greater than or equal to about 1 m,
- the aerogel exhibits a compressive modulus greater than or equal to about 100 kPa,
- the aerogel exhibits a compressive yield strength greater than or equal to about 20 kPa, and
- the aerogel has at least one dimension having a length that is within about 20% of the length of a corresponding dimension of the precursor gel material of the aerogel immediately prior to the sublimating.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.