Abstract: The synthetic amorphous silica powder of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises a synthetic amorphous silica powder obtained by applying a spheroidizing treatment to a granulated silica powder, and by subsequently cleaning and drying it so that the synthetic amorphous silica powder has an average particle diameter D50 of 10 to 2,000 ?m; wherein the synthetic amorphous silica powder has: a quotient between 1.35 exclusive and 1.75 inclusive obtained by dividing a BET specific surface area of the powder by a theoretical specific surface area calculated from the average particle diameter D50; a real density of 2.10 to 2.20 g/cm3; an intra-particulate porosity of 0 to 0.05; a circularity between 0.50 inclusive and 0.75 inclusive; and a spheroidization ratio between 0.20 inclusive and 0.55 exclusive.

Abstract: Nanocomposites of multi-phase metal oxide ceramics have been produced from water soluble salts of the resulting metal oxides by a foaming esterification sol-gel method. The evolution of volatile gases at elevated temperature during the esterification reaction causes the formation of a foam product. Nanocomposites of multi-phase metal oxide ceramics have also been produced by a cation polymer precursor method. In this second method, the metal cations are chelated by the polymer and the resulting product is gelled and foamed. Calcination of the resulting foams gives nanocomposite powders with extremely fine, uniform grains and phase domains. These microstructures are remarkably stable both under post-calcination heat treatment and during consolidation by hot-pressing.

Abstract: An aqueous sol containing silica-based particles which sol has a specific surface area of at least 115 m2/g aqueous sol and a pH of at least 10.5, and an S-value within the range of from 10 to 45% and/or contains silica-based particles having a specific surface area of at least 550 and less than about 1200 m2/g SiO2, and wherein the sol is substantially free from aluminium.

Abstract: In a process for producing a spinnable silica sol material, a viscosity value VS is stipulated which the spinnable silica sol material should have after ripening. A viscosity value VR corresponding to VS which the silica sol material has before ripening is ascertained. An aqueous acid solution and a hydrolysable silicon compound are combined. The combined mixture is evaporated to give a single-phase solution while measuring the viscosity of the mixture and the evaporation process is terminated upon reaching the viscosity value VR. The single-phase solution thus obtained is then ripened to give a silica sol material with the viscosity value VS. The process exhibits reduced waste and more exact reproducibility of the spinning sol properties during the synthesis and an increased space-time yield in the production of biologically degradable and/or resorbable fibres and nonwoven fabrics.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing porous materials by replacing a first solvent in a wet material containing the first solvent with a second solvent in a high pressure condition and drying the resulting wet material which process comprises a mixed solvent feeding step for feeding a mixed solvent composed of a solvent identical to or of the same kind as the first solvent and the second solvent to the wet material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new synthetise for the preparation of mesoporous structures including mesoporous materials with chiral morphologies and mesoporous materials with local or surface chirality. The method can be used for manufacturing controlled drug delivery devices, for example for delivery of folic acid, and fluorescent particles.

Abstract: The present application discloses a process for preparing silica particles, said process comprising the step of mixing (I) an aqueous phase and (II) an oily phase comprising pre-polymerized tetraalkoxy orthosilicate, one or more alcohols, and optionally one or more polyalkylene glycols, wherein said aqueous phase comprises, in an aqueous solvent, one or more C6-30-alkyl modified polysaccharides, and optionally one or more polyalkylene glycols.

Abstract: The present invention provides a globular-shaped metal oxide powder with excellent thermal insulation performance and reduced bulk density, and a method of manufacture thereof, wherein the metal oxide powder has globular independent particles as the main component, and has BET specific surface area of 400 to 1000 m2/g, BJH pore volume of 2 to 8 mL/g, and oil absorption of no less than 250 mL/100g. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing the hollow and globular shaped metal oxide powder including the step of forming an O/W/O emulsion.

Abstract: A method of producing a porous silica material includes: preparing a raw material solution containing silicon alkoxides including diisobutyldimethoxysilane and tetramethoxysilane in such a mass ratio that a mass of the diisobutyldimethoxysilane is 0.25 or more and 1 or less per mass of the tetramethoxysilane, and a solvent; obtaining a wet gel by adding, to the raw material solution, an aqueous solution containing a catalyst for promoting hydrolysis and condensation polymerization of the silicon alkoxides, the aqueous solution having a pH of 8.9 or more and 11.3 or less; washing the wet gel; and drying the washed wet gel under supercritical conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing TiO2/SiO2 mixed oxides or the hydrates and/or oxide hydrates thereof comprised of 0.5 to 95 wt % SiO2 and the balance as TiO2, each referring to the completely calcined product, by using titanium alcoholates and aqueous silica sol. Moreover, the invention relates to the use of these mixed oxides as catalyst carriers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for producing a sheet including a silica aerogel, the method including (S1) gelling a water glass solution in a mixture of an alcohol and water to prepare a wet gel, (S2) hydrophobically modifying the surface of the wet gel with a non-polar organic solvent, an organosilane compound and an alcohol, (S3) dissolving the hydrophobically modified silica gel and a polymer in an aprotic organic solvent to prepare an electrospinning solution, and (S4) electrospinning the electrospinning solution to produce a fiber web including a silica aerogel, and a sheet in which a polymer and a silica aerogel coexist in the form of a fiber.

Abstract: To provide a process for producing a dispersion of hollow fine SiO2 particles which contains no residual core fine particles, generates no uncontrollable agglomerates, and is easy to filtrate.

Abstract: A method of producing a porous silica material includes: preparing a raw material solution containing silicon alkoxides including diisobutyldimethoxysilane and tetramethoxysilane in such a mass ratio that a mass of the diisobutyldimethoxysilane is 0.25 or more and 1 or less per mass of the tetramethoxysilane, and a solvent; obtaining a wet gel by adding, to the raw material solution, an aqueous solution containing a catalyst for promoting hydrolysis and condensation polymerization of the silicon alkoxides, the aqueous solution having a pH of 8.9 or more and 11.3 or less; washing the wet gel; and drying the washed wet gel under supercritical conditions.

Abstract: New silica gel materials and novel methods of producing such are provided. The method itself entails a manner of mixing the reactants together in a one-pot process such that the time required for aging is reduced without compromising the ability to target pore size production. In such a way, the pH of the reaction drives pore size development, thereby permitting a more efficient process to be followed in terms of expensive drying/heating steps being reduced timewise, if not altogether. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the resultant gel materials exhibit a certain pore size minimum while simultaneously exhibiting a degree of softness heretofore unavailable. As such, not only is this novel method more efficient in silica gel manufacture, but the resultant materials are completely novel as well. The gel materials made therefrom may be utilized in a variety of different end uses, such as cooking oil filtration, soft skin cleansers, dental abrasives, and the like.

Abstract: A method of preparing a wet-processible metal oxide solution and a method of fabricating a film using the same are provided. A metal oxide that has been widely used as a photocatalyst is improved and a metal oxide solution having new functionality is formed. The metal oxide solution is transparent, wet-processible, and facilitates electron transfer. The metal oxide solution can be applied in various ways to an electronic device and is well-suited for application to an electronic device using organic materials. Also, a titanium oxide solution functions to remove and block oxygen and moisture. Thus, when it is applied to an electronic device using organic materials that are vulnerable to oxygen and moisture, the lifetime of the device can be increased.

Abstract: A system for preparing silica aerogel powders. The system includes a material supplier, a mixer, a drier and a recoverer. The material supplier transmitting de-ionized water, water glass, an organosilane compound, an inorganic acid and at least one organic solvent. Some of organic solvents are mixed and transmitted to the mixer and tramining organic solvent is transmitted to the mixer. The mixer mixes the materials transmitted from the material supplier so as to generate silica hydrogel. The drier dries the silica hydrogel so as to generate silica aerogel powders. The recoverer recovers some vaporized materials of the materials used in the mixer and the drier.

Abstract: A composite material that includes a dopant comprised of pre-formed, three dimensional assemblies of skeletal structures that are comprised of solgel derived nanoparticles. The composite material includes a chemically bonded, in situ formed, polymer coating that at least partially coats mesoporous surfaces of the nanoparticles to provide enhancement of random dispersion of the dopant and to minimize or avoid agglomeration. Further, the polymer may be functionalized or the mesoporous surfaces of the nanoparticles may be treated to enable stronger chemical bonding between the dopant and the polymer.

Abstract: Hollow fine particles containing SiO2 as the main component and containing another metal. The amount of the other metal (calculated as oxide) is 0.2 to 8 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of SiO2. A coating composition containing the hollow fine particles and a dispersion medium. An article having a coating film including the coating composition formed on a substrate. A process for producing hollow fine particles, which includes (a) precipitating a shell containing SiO2 as the main component and containing another metal on the surface of core fine particles, to obtain core/shell particles, and (b) dissolving or decomposing the core fine particles of the core/shell fine particles.

Abstract: Nanoporous sol-gel derived monoliths and methods for making nanoporous sol-gel derived monoliths are provided. The methods enable fine control over pore size and pore size distribution, e.g., so that pore sizes can be predetermined and precisely tuned over a range from 0.3 nm to about 30 nm, or over a range from about 0.3 nm to about 10 nm. The monoliths may be derived from any suitable sol-gel, but in some instances they are derived from silica sol-gels. The sol-gel derived monoliths with finely tunable pore sizes and narrow pore size distributions may be used for a variety of applications, e.g., as substrates or templates for high surface area electrodes, as substrates for high surface area sensor, or as a component in a filtration apparatus.

Abstract: A method of forming an abrasive article includes forming a mixture comprising a liquid carrier and a glass precursor material, wherein the glass precursor material comprises a material selected from the group of materials consisting of a hydrated metal compound, an organic silicate compound, or a combination thereof. The method further includes providing abrasive grains within the mixture, forming the mixture into a green ceramic body, and heating the green ceramic body to form a bonded abrasive article comprising the abrasive grains contained within a bond matrix, wherein the bond matrix comprises an amorphous phase formed from the glass precursor material.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method for synthesizing one-dimensional helical mesoporous structure, in which a self-assembled structure of a glycine-derived surfactant is used as a template at room temperature to synthesize the one-dimensional helical mesoporous silica structures having a uniform pore size and a method for synthesizing a glycine-derived surfactant for synthesizing the helical nanoporous structures, in which relatively expensive surfactant can be easily recovered using an organic solvent and reused, which provides economical and environment friendly effects and the glycine-derived surfactant is synthesized by homogeneously heating a reaction product of glycine and phthalic anhydride by dielectric heating with irradiation of microwave, whereby it is possible to realize high yield of the glycine-derived surfactant, shortened synthesis time and increase in energy efficiency, leading to improvement in productivity and reduction in production cost.

Abstract: Disclosed are silica particles having a volume average particle size of from about 100 nm to about 500 nm, an average circularity degree of from about 0.5 to about 0.85, and an average value of the ratios of circle equivalent diameters Da of the silica particles obtained by a flat image analysis to maximum heights H of the silica particles obtained by a stereoscopic image analysis of more than 1.5 and less than 1.9.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide silicon-based nanoparticle composites, where the silicon nanoparticles are highly luminescent. Preferred embodiments of the invention are Si—O solid composite networks, e.g., glass, having a homogenous distribution of luminescent hydrogen terminated silicon nanoparticles in a homogenous distribution throughout the solid. Embodiments of the invention also provide fabrication processes for silicon-based silicon nanoparticle composites. A preferred method for forming a silicon-based nanoparticle composite disperses hydrogen terminated silicon nanoparticles and an inorganic precursor of an organosilicon gel in an aprotic solvent to form a sol. A catalyst is mixed into the sol. The sol is then permitted to dry into a gel of the silicon-based nanoparticle composite.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus are disclosed herein for recovery of high-purity silicon, silicon carbide and PEG from a slurry produced during a wafer cutting process. A silicon-containing material can be processed for production of a silicon-rich composition. Silicon carbide and PEG recovered from the silicon-containing material can be used to form a wafer-saw cutting fluid. The silicon-rich composition can be reacted with iodine containing compounds that can be purified and/or used to form deposited silicon of high purity. The produced silicon can be used in the photovoltaic industry or semiconductor industry.

Abstract: A process of preparing a silica sol is described. The process involves reacting a fresh sol with guanidine carbonate. The reaction may be conducted in the presence of a base (e. g. , sodium water glass), and at a pH of from 8 to 12. The process of the present invention may also include concentrating steps. The silica sol prepared by the method of the present invention has a BET surface area of greater than or equal to 100 m2/g, and contains from 0.05 to 15% by weight of gaunidinium ions, based on the total weight of the silica gel.

Abstract: Systems and methods and resulting compositions of matter including silicon solids from a mixture of silicon and water. The mixture is collected at a collection stage from at least one wafer abrasion process performed on a silicon surface having an impurity concentration ?0.1 ppb and extracting one portion of the water from the mixture using at least one dryer stage to form a dry cake. The dry cake includes at least 99.99% silicon by weight excluding water and non-silicon species, where a concentration of water in the dry cake is between 0.05% and 1% by weight, and where a concentration of non-silicon species in the dry cake is between 0.05% and 1% by weight.

Abstract: Cross-linked sol-gel like materials and cross-linked aerogels, as well as methods for making such cross-linked sol-gel like materials and cross-linked aerogels are described.

Abstract: A cement additive, comprising nanostructured or not particles of SiO2—CaO—Al2O3 and at least one additive selected from the group consisting of nano-sized particles of SiO2, 2CaO.SiO2, 3CaO.SiO2, Al2O3, P—Ca and/or combinations thereof.

Abstract: In a method for producing a porous SiO2-xerogel starting solution containing a silicon compound is provided and organic monomers and an organically modified alkoxysilane are added to the starting solution. During gelification of the silicon compound, the organic monomers and the organically modified alkoxysilane react in situ to form organic solid skeletal supports in the silicon network. The resulting gel is dried under subcritical conditions and the solid skeletal supports removed by thermal oxidation.

Abstract: A method of preparing silica aero-gel powders having a short preparation time and stable preparation processes. In the method, the silica aerogel powders are generated by using a water glass solution, an inorganic acid, an organosilane compound and an organic solvent. The method includes dispersion-solution generating, gelating and solvent exchanging and drying. In the dispersion-solution generating, a dispersion solution is generated by dispersing the water glass solution and the organosilane compound in the organic solvent. In the gelating and solvent exchanging, silica hydrogel is generated by adding the inorganic acid to the dispersion solution and simultaneously performing gelating and solvent-exchanging. In the drying, the silica aerogel powders are generated by drying the silica hydro-gel.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a simple and effective way of synthesizing robust organic-inorganic hybrid gels and ultra-thin films using vaporization of a gel precursor. The gels are synthesized at relatively low temperature allowing the activity of the immobilized species to be maintained. The disclosure provides robust, synthetic, selective, active and/or passive transport systems in the form of functional biologically active species and mechanisms for forming them. These systems allow selective and passive or active transport of ionic, molecular and biological species through the incorporation of functional biological molecules and biomolecular assemblies in a rigid matrix.

Abstract: A process for producing inorganic spheres, which comprises injecting an aqueous liquid containing an inorganic compound into a laminar flow of an organic liquid which runs at a flow rate of from 0.001 to 2 m/s in a flow path through a porous membrane to form a W/O type emulsion and solidifying the aqueous liquid containing an inorganic compound in the W/O type emulsion.

Abstract: Silica aerogels with improved properties are disclosed together with methods for synthesizing such aerogels. The improved properties include lower thermal conductivity (better insulating capacity), lower acoustic velocity, lower dielectric constant and improved ductility. Greater tunability of the refractive index can also be achieved. The silica aerogels are prepared by a sol-gel processing method that provides better control of the formation of aerogel structures. Generally speaking, the improvements arise from control of the synthesis to create a morphology of primary clusters and diverse-sized secondary clusters of dense silica aerogels separated by less densely packed regions. By providing a broader range of secondary clusters and/or pore sizes and loose connectivity between clusters, reductions can be achieved in thermal conductivity and flexural modulus.

Abstract: A method for preparing a silica aerogel in the form of permanently hydrophobic powder in a short time, wherein the silica aerogel has a high specific surface area and high functionality, and is prepared by subjecting a wet gel to a solvent exchange process and a silylizing process in a mixture solvent including a silylizing agent at the same time, the wet gel being prepared using a water glass as a raw material and adding a surfactant at a room temperature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of an aerogel in the form of spherules or beads and the use thereof for thermal or sound insulation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sol of spinous silica-based particles in which silica-based particles having peculiar forms, spinous forms are dispersed in a solvent. The spinous silica-based particles have verrucous projections formed on surfaces of spherical silica-based particles. In the spinous particles, a value of the surface roughness (SA1/SA2, SA1 indicating a specific surface area measured by the BET method or the Sears method and SA2 indicating a specific surface area converted from an average particle diameter (D2) measured by the image analysis method) is in the range from 1.7 to 10. Furthermore the average diameter (D2) measured by the image analysis method is in the range from 7 to 150 nm.

Abstract: An aqueous polysilicate composition comprising a polysilicate microgel based component in association with particles derived from colloidal polysilicate. The invention also concerns a process for preparing an aqueous polysilicate composition comprising mixing an aqueous colloidal polysilicate with an aqueous phase of a polysilicate microgel. The aqueous polysilicate composition is more effective than colloidal silica and is more stable than a conventional polysilicate microgel.

Abstract: A method of producing a range of diatomaceous earth filter aids having selectable permeabilities and less than about 1 percent by weight total crystalline silica. The method includes milling diatomaceous earth ore to a size range of between about 100 micrometers and about 1400 micrometers; calcining the milled diatomaceous earth in a calciner; and milling the calcined diatomaceous earth in an adjustable milling and classification system to produce diatomaceous earth filter aids. Systems to implement such methods and compositions produced by such methods are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed are mesoporous silica particles and a preparation method thereof, particularly, a method of preparing mesoporous silica particles, including mixing a silica precursor, an alkylamine-based surfactant, and a phosphoric acid-based cosurfactant, thus preparing a mixture solution (a mother liquor); adding or not adding the mixture solution with an acid solution, and conducting stirring, thus providing mesoporous silica particles; and thermally treating the mesoporous silica particles. These mesoporous silica particles are prepared using a phosphoric acid-based cosurfactant for stabilizing the surface of the particles to prevent the aggregation thereof, thereby uniformly distributing the particles.

Abstract: An optical article, having an almost complete isotropy and dimensions equal to or lower than 500 .mu.m, is prepared by a sol-gel procedure comprising a preliminary step wherein the mould is filled cold with a sol containing the desired oxide precursors, sol gelation, gel drying, removal of the gel from the mould and the subsequent miniaturization of the dried gel. The optical article can be used for optic telecommunications.

Abstract: Precipitated silicas with a high pH and their use in applications as defoamers having optimum silanol group density and a process for preparing precipitated silicas and to their use, particularly in defoamer formulations.

Abstract: A process for wet pulverizing mesoporous silica particles while a surfactant exists in mesopores, and mesoporous silica particles having an average particle diameter of 1 ?m or less, wherein the volume of mesopores having a diameter of 2 to 50 nm is 0.7 mL/g or more and the geometric standard deviation of a mesopore distribution is 2.0 or less. Mesoporous silica particles having a particle diameter in a submicron order can be obtained at a high yield without causing the marked collapse of mesopores and can be produced efficiently by using an ordinary pulverizer and safely by using an aqueous medium. The mesoporous silica particles having an average particle diameter of 1 ?m or less are useful as an ink absorbent for ink jet recording paper, low-dielectric film, catalyst support, separating agent, adsorbent and medical carrier for medicines.

Abstract: A monolithic substrate of materials containing within it multiple opened channels of one dimensional macropore have a mesoporous inner surface and a method for making the same, wherein each of the opened channels is isolated from each other. The isolated channels of the one dimensional pore are aligned with and continuously extend through the entire substrate which contains various mesopores in three dimensions. The macropore has preferred pore sizes ranging from about 0.1 micrometers to about 20 micrometers, and the mesopore has a preferred pore size which is less than 500 angstrom.

Abstract: The invention relates to an aqueous sol containing silica-based particles which sol has a specific surface area of at least 115 m2/g aqueous sol and an S-value within the range of from 10 to 45% or contains silica-based particles having a specific surface area of at least 550 m2/g and less than 1000 m2/g SiO2. The invention further relates to processes for the production of said aqueous sol and the use of the aqueous sol containing silica-based particles as a drainage and retention aid in the production of paper as well as a process for the production of paper from an aqueous suspension containing cellulosic fibres, and optional filler, in which silica-based particles and at least one charged organic polymer are added to the cellulosic suspension.

Abstract: Precipitated silica or silicates, obtainable by acid precipitation of aqueous silicate solutions while maintaining a constant alkali number of at least 1.

Abstract: Cross-linked sol-gel like materials and cross-linked aerogels, as well as methods for making such cross-linked sol-gel like materials and cross-linked aerogels are described.

Abstract: There is provided particulate silica which can be suitably used as a viscoelasticity modifier such as a thickener which is added to liquid such as water, a liquid resin or paint to adjust its viscoelastic properties such as viscosity and thixotropic nature, a reinforcer or filler for silicone rubber or sealants, a polishing agent for CMP (Chemical Mechanical Polishing) or a surface coating agent for ink-jet printing paper. The particulate silica has a BET specific surface area S of 130 to 380 m2/g, and its fractal shape parameter ?1 in an ?-value analysis target range of 20 to 30 nm satisfies the following equation (1) and its fractal shape parameter ?2 in an ?-value analysis target range of 30 to 50 nm satisfies the following equation (2). ?1+0.00175S<2.518??(1) ?2+0.00174S<2.

Abstract: New silica gel materials and novel methods of producing such are provided. The method itself entails a manner of mixing the reactants together in a one-pot process such that the time required for aging is reduced without compromising the ability to target pore size production. In such a way, the pH of the reaction drives pore size development, thereby permitting a more efficient process to be followed in terms of expensive drying/heating steps being reduced timewise, if not altogether. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the resultant gel materials exhibit a certain pore size minimum while simultaneously exhibiting a degree of softness heretofore unavailable. As such, not only is this novel method more efficient in silica gel manufacture, but the resultant materials are completely novel as well. The gel materials made therefrom may be utilized in a variety of different end uses, such as cooking oil filtration, soft skin cleansers, dental abrasives, and the like.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of fabricating superhydrophobic silica-based powder, comprising: forming a hydrogel by adding an organosilane compound having alkaline pH and an inorganic acid to a non-ion-exchanged water glass solution, which is a precursor, to form a mixed solution and then surface-modifying and gelating the mixed solution; dipping the hydrogel into a nonpolar solvent to solvent-exchange the hydrogel and remove sodium ions (Na+) therefrom; and drying the solvent-exchanged hydrogel through a fluidized bed drying method under normal pressure or reduced pressure to fabricate aerogel powder. According to the method of fabricating a superhydrophobic silica-based powder of the present invention, the process thereof is very simple and economical. Therefore, the present invention is expected to be industrially important.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a highly dispersible silica which has a high surface area, a process to manufacture the aforesaid silica and its use as a tire filler for utility vehicles, motor cycles and high speed vehicles.