# US 2016/0258153 A1 · Process for the Production of an Aerogel Material > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0258153 A1 - Document ID: US20160258153A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/908,601 - Filed: 2014-07-28 - Published: 2016-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2013-08-02 - Assignees: Empa EidgenöSsische MaterialprüFungs- Und Forschungsanstalt - Applicants: Empa EidgenöSsische MaterialprüFungs-Und Forschungsanstalt - Inventors: Matthias KOEBEL; Shanyu ZHAO; Samuel BRUNNER; Caroline SIMMEN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160258153A1 ## CPC - E04B 1/78: Heat insulating elements {(E04B1/7662 takes precedence)} - C01B 33/145: Preparation of hydroorganosols, organosols or dispersions in an organic medium - C01B 33/155: Preparation of hydroorganogels or organogels - C01B 33/1585: {Dehydration into aerogels} - E04B: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS (border constructions of opening in walls, floors or ceilings E06B1/00; {electromagnetic shielding H05K9/0001}) - C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C} ## Abstract A process for the production of an aerogel material comprises the following steps: a) preparation of a silicon oxide sol in an alcoholic solvent mixture; b) triggering of the gelation of the sol by adding base, whereby a gel is formed, and optionally aging of the gel; c) hydrophobicization of the optionally aged gel; d) removal of the solvent mixture by subcritical drying, whereby the aerogel material is formed. The silicon oxide sol formed in step a) comprises at least one acid-catalytically activatable hydrophobicization agent, wherein the volume fraction of the hydrophobicization agent in the sol is 5 to 60%. The hydrophobicization in step c) is induced as a result of release or addition of at least one hydrophobicization catalyst acting in combination with the hydrophobicization agent. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for the production of an aerogel material, comprising the following steps: a) preparation of a silicon oxide sol in an alcoholic solvent mixture; b) triggering of the gelation of the sol by adding base, whereby a gel is formed, and optionally aging of the gel; c) hydrophobicization of the optionally aged gel; d) removal of the solvent mixture by subcritical drying, whereby the aerogel material is formed; characterized in that the silicon oxide sol formed in step a) comprises at least one acid-catalytically activatable hydrophobicization agent, where the volume fraction of the hydrophobicization agent in the sol is 5 to 60%, and that the hydrophobicization in step c) is induced as a result of release or addition of at least one hydrophobicization catalyst acting in combination with the hydrophobicization agent. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the catalytically activatable hydrophobicization agent is hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the volume fraction of the hydrophobicization agent in the sol is 20 to 50%, in particular 25% to 40% and more particularly 34% to 38%. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophobicization catalyst is formed by a radical decomposition reaction in situ in the gel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophobicization catalyst is released by slow-release agents in the gel and optionally by thermal activation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophobicization catalyst is gaseous HCl. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophobicization catalyst is trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS) and/or HCl in an alcoholic solution. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the sol further comprises at least one functional silane. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the sol further comprises at least one polymerizable monomer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the step c) and optionally an initial phase of step d) are performed at overpressure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the step d) is performed at reduced pressure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the sol is added to a fiber-based matrix after initiation of gelation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein at least the steps b) and c) are performed in a continuous process. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) Insulant panel, formed from an aerogel material produced according to claim 1. ### Claim 15 A precursor product for producing an aerogel material, comprising a silicon oxide sol and/or a silicon oxide gel in an alcoholic solvent mixture and at least one acid-catalytically activatable hydrophobicization agent. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) The process according to claim 2, wherein the volume fraction of the hydrophobicization agent in the sol is 20 to 50%, in particular 25% to 40% and more particularly 34% to 38%. ### Claim 17 (depends on 2) The process according to claim 2, wherein the hydrophobicization catalyst is formed by a radical decomposition reaction in situ in the gel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 3) The process according to claim 3, wherein the hydrophobicization catalyst is formed by a radical decomposition reaction in situ in the gel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 2) The process according to claim 2, wherein hydrophobicization catalyst is released by slow-release agents in the gel and optionally by thermal activation. ### Claim 20 (depends on 3) The process according to claim 3, wherein the hydrophobicization catalyst is released by slow-release agents in the gel and optionally by thermal activation.