Abstract: What is described is a method for producing a thermally shaped substrate coated with a sol-gel coating material, in which the sol-gel coating material comprises one or more hydrolyzable silanes, which may have been hydrolyzed to form a precondensate, and, if desired, a crosslinking agent, at least some of the hydrolyzable silanes containing on a non-hydrolyzable substituent a functional group by way of which crosslinking is possible, and in which A) the sol-gel coating material is applied to a thermally shapable substrate, B) the applied sol-gel coating material is partially precrosslinked and/or dried, C) the substrate coated with the sol-gel coating material is subsequently shaped thermally, and D) during and/or after the thermal shaping the sol-gel coating material is cured completely by means of thermal or photochemical crosslinking.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nanocomposite for thermal insulation especially for fireproofing purposes, which can be obtained by combining (A) at least 35 wt. % of nanoscaled, optionally surface-modified particles of an inorganic compound; (B) 10-60 wt. % of a compound with at least two functional groups which can react and/or interact with the surface groups of nanoscaled particles (A), (C) 1-40 wt. % of water and/or an organic solvent which has no functional groups or only one which is defined in (B), wherein the above-mentioned percentages relate to the sum of components (A), (B) and (C), and (D)=0-10 wt. % (based on the nanocomposite) of additives.

Abstract: The wet film thickness during spraying of the coating composition onto the substrate is preferably adjusted such that it is greater by a factor of at least 8 than the target dry film thickness.

Abstract: A foundry binder is obtainable by surface modification of a) colloidal inorganic particles with b) one or more silanes of the general formula (I) Rx—Si—A4−x  (I) where the radicals A are identical or different and are hydroxyl groups or groups which can be removed hydrolytically, except methoxy, the radicals R are identical or different and are groups which cannot be removed hydrolytically and x is 0, 1, 2 or 3, where x≧1 in at least 50 mol % of the silanes; under the conditions of the sol-gel process with a below-stoichiometric amount of water, based on the hydrolysable groups which are present, with formation of a nanocomposite sol, and further hydrolysis and condensation of the nanocomposite sol, if desired, before it is brought into contact with the foundry sand.

Abstract: A composite material is described which is characterized by a substrate based on vegetable materials, in particular vegetable fibers, vegetable fiber raw materials or vegetable fiber semifinished products, and by a nanocomposite which is in functional contact with said substrate and is obtainable by surface modification of a) colloidal inorganic particles with b) one or more silanes of the general formula (I) Rx—Si—A4−x  (I) where the radicals A are identical or different and are hydroxyl groups or groups which can be removed hydrolytically, except methoxy, the radicals R are identical or different and are groups which cannot be removed hydrolytically and x is 0, 1, 2 or 3, where x≧1 in at least 50 mol % of the silanes; under the conditions of the sol-gel process with a below-stoichiometric amount of water, based on the hydrolysable groups which are present, with formation of a nanocomposite sol, and further hydrolysis and condensation of the nanocomposite sol, if desired,

Abstract: Described are nanostructured molded articles and layers which are produced by a wet chemical process comprising the following steps: a) provision of a free-flowing composition containing solid nanoscaled inorganic particles having polymerizable and/or polycondensable organic surface groups; b) introduction of said composition of step a) into a mold; or b2) application of said composition of step a) onto a substrate; and c) polymerization and/or polycondensation of the surface groups of said solid particles with formation of a cured molded article or a cured layer.

Abstract: A composite material is described which is characterized by a substrate and by a nanocomposite which is in functional contact with the substrate and is obtainable by surface modification of a) colloidal inorganic particles with b) one or more silanes of the general formula (I) Rx—Si—A4−x  (I) where the radicals A are identical or different and are hydroxyl groups or groups which can be removed hydrolytically, except methoxy, the radicals R are identical or different and are groups which cannot be removed hydrolytically and x is 0, 1, 2 or 3, where x≧1 in at least 50 mol % of the silanes; under the conditions of the sol-gel process with a below-stoichiometric amount of water, based on the hydrolysable groups which are present, with formation of a nanocomposite sol, and further hydrolysis and condensation of the nanocomposite sol, if desired, before it is brought into contact with the substrate, followed by curing, said substrate not being a glass or mineral fiber or a vegeta

Abstract: Optical components have a material-distribution gradient due to nanometer-size particles embedded in a solid matrix. The components are manufactured by forming a dispersion of nanometer-size particles in a liquid, curable matrix material, causing the particles to migrate in the matrix material on the basis of a potential difference to form a distribution gradient, and subsequently curing the matrix material, retaining the distribution gradient. The method is suitable for use in the manufacture of optical lenses with a refractive index gradient.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the production of compounds based on hydrolyzable silanes containing epoxy groups. The process involves adding one of the following substances to a pre-hydrolyzed silicon compound A with at least one hydrolytically non-separable group which includes an epoxy ring: i) a particulate substance B which can be selected from oxides, oxyhydrates, nitrides or carbides of Si, Al and B, and of transition metals, the particle size being 1-100 nm; ii) a surface-active agent, preferably non-ionic; iii) an aromatic polyol with an average molecular weight not exceeding 1000. The compounds obtained through this process can be used to produce coatings and molded bodies with a range of properties, in particular high scratch resistance, lasting hydrophilic characteristics, corrosion resistance, good adhesion and transparency.

Abstract: Described is a process for preparing a molding suitable for optical purposes, which process comprises the conjoint free-radical polymerization of a precondensate (A) which is derived from at least one hydrolytically condensable silane (a) having at least one free-radically polymerizable group X, and of a monomer (B) having at least two free-radically polymerizable groups Y, the numerical ratio of groups X to groups Y being not greater than 5:1. The moldings obtainable by this process are characterized by high transparency and homogeneity, freedom from stress, scratch and abrasion resistance, high mechanical strength, etc.

Abstract: A description is given of coated inorganic pigments comprising an organic pigment which has a coating, prepared by the sol-gel process from glass-forming components and densified to form a xerogel or glass, having a layer thickness of at least 0.8 .mu.m. These pigments are prepared by spray drying a sol-pigment dispersion, followed if desired by thermal densification of the xerogel layer to form a glass layer. The coated pigments are suitable for producing enamels and moldings.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the production of compounds based on hydrolyzable silanes containing epoxy groups. The process involves adding one of the following substances to a pre-hydrolyzed silicon compound A with at least one hydrolytically non-separable group which includes an epoxy ring in the presence of an alcoholate of zirconium or aluminum: i) a particulate substance B which can be selected from oxides, oxyhydrates, nitrides or carbides of Si, Al and B, and of transition metals, the particle size being 1-100 nm;ii) a surface-active agent, preferably non-ionic;iii) an aromatic polyol with an average molecular weight not exceeding 1000, the resulting compounds being useful to produce coatings and molded bodies with a range of properties, in particular high scratch resistance, lasting hydrophilic characteristics, corrosion resistance, good adhesion and transparency.

Abstract: A description is given of electrochromic thin-film systems and their components, especially an improved electrochromic thin-film based on tungsten oxide and/or molybdenum oxide into which alkali metal ions are incorporated, an electrolyte which is improved in particular with respect to its conductivity and is based on pre-hydrolysed, organically modified alkoxysilane and on organic diol (triol), and an improved process for producing a noncolouring ion insertion layer based on cerium oxides and titanium oxides.

Abstract: To produce functional vitrous, preferably colored or colloid-dyed layers, a composition produced by hydrolysis and polycondensation of(A) at least on hydrolyzable silane of general formula (I)SiX.sub.4 (I)wherein the radicals X are the same or different and represent hydrolyzable groups or hydroxy groups, or an oligomer derived therefrom, and(B) at least one organosilane of general formula (II)R.sup.1.sub.a R.sup.2.sub.b SiX.sub.(4-a-b) (II)wherein R.sup.1 is a non-hydrolyzable radical, R.sup.

Abstract: Composite materials that contain nanoscaled particles are produced in thata) a compound, which is soluble in the solvent and belongs to a metal of the groups 6 to 15 of the periodic system or lanthanides,is reacted in an organic solvent withb) a precipitating reagent in order to form antimonides, arsenides, chalcogenides, halogenides or phosphides of the metal of the metal compound (a) in the present ofc) a bifunctional compound, which exhibits at least one electron pair-donor group and at least one group, which can be converted through polymerization or polycondensation into an organic or inorganic network;the resulting stabilized sol of nanoscaled particles is mixed withd) a compound, which can be polymerized or cured thermally or photochemically into a polymer, ande) a polymerization initiator;a hydrolysis and polycondensation of the optionally present groups that can be converted into an inorganic network is conducted; and the material is cured thermally of photochemically.