Abstract: A curable composition for production of coatings for thermal, electrical and/or acoustic insulation, where the composition has at least one aqueous binder can be made. The composition has a first component based on spray-dried fumed silica pellets. The composition also has at least one second component selected from the group of the silicon dioxides, preferably microsilica, pellets based on pyrogenically produced silicon dioxide, silica aerogels, silicate glass (foamed glass/expanded glass), hollow silicon dioxide particles (hollow glass beads), or pellets selected from perlites, preferably expanded perlites, vermiculites, polymers, preferably expanded polystyrene pellets, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Hydrophobized granular material comprising from 30 to 95% by weight of a pyrogenic mixed oxide based on silica and at least one oxide of metal M selected from of Al, Ti and Fe with the content of metal M oxide in the mixed oxide being from 01 to 10% by weight, and from 5 to 70% by weight of at least one IR-opacifier selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, zirconium dioxide, ilmenites, iron titanates, zirconium silicates, manganese oxides, graphites, carbon blacks and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Fumed silica powder, surface treated with a surface treatment agent selected from the group consisting of organosilanes, silazanes, acyclic polysiloxanes, cyclic polysiloxanes, and mixtures thereof, wherein the powder has: a) a number of silanol groups relative to BET surface area dSiOH of at least 0.85 SiOH/nm2, as determined by reaction with lithium aluminium hydride; b) a methanol wettability of more than 40% by volume of methanol in methanol-water mixture; c) a tamped density of not more than 200 g/L.

Abstract: Silica-based hydrophobic granular material with an increased polarity Silica-based granular material, comprising silica and at least one IR-opacifier, hydrophobized with a surface treatment agent comprising a silicon atom, wherein the granular material has: a) a cumulative pore volume of pores>4 nm of more than 2.5 cm3/g, as determined by the mercury intrusion method according to DIN ISO 15901-1; b) a tamped density of 140 g/L to 290 g/L; c) a number of silanol groups relative to BET surface area dSiOH of at least 0.5 SiOH/nm2, as determined by reaction with lithium aluminium hydride. d) a number of silicon atoms in the surface treatment agent relative to BET surface area d[Si] of at least 1.0 [Si atoms]/nm2.

Abstract: Hydrophobized granular material comprising from 30 to 95% by weight of a pyrogenic mixed oxide based on silica and at least one oxide of metal M selected from of Al, Ti and Fe with the content of metal M oxide in the mixed oxide being from 01 to 10% by weight, and from 5 to 70% by weight of at least one IR-opacifier selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, zirconium dioxide, ilmenites, iron titanates, zirconium silicates, manganese oxides, graphites, carbon blacks and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermal insulating composition, containing 5 to 60% by weight of a hydrophobized granular material comprising fumed silica and at least one IR-opacifier, and 40 to 95% by weight of an inorganic and/or an organic binder, whereby the hydrophobized granular material has a content of free hydroxyl groups of no greater than 0.12 mmol/g, as determined by the reaction with lithium aluminium hydride.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing an aerogel material based on amorphous silica, comprising the following steps: a) preparing a mixture comprising silica sol, alcohol, and a hydrophobizing agent activatable by acid catalysis; b1) adding a base to the mixture formed in step a) and mixing the resulting mixture; b2) gelation of the mixture comprising silica sol obtained in step b2), resulting in the formation of a silica gel, and optional aging of the gel; c) adding a hydrophobization catalyst to the silica gel formed in step b2) and optionally aged, in-situ formation or controlled release of a hydrophobization catalyst, and initiation of the catalyzed hydrophobization of the silica; d) removing the volatile constituents of the mixture formed in step c) by subcritical drying, resulting in the formation of the aerogel material, wherein at least steps b2) to d) are carried out in the same reactor.