Abstract: A method can be used for manufacturing one or more bodies made of a porous material derived from precursors of the porous material in a sol-gel process. The method involves filling precursors of the porous material into a mold defining the shape of the body, where the precursors include at least two reactive components and a solvent, and forming a gel body. The step is then repeated so as to form several gel bodies. The gel bodies are then removed from the mold after a predetermined time in which the gel bodies are formed from the precursors of the porous material. The gel bodies are arranged adjacent to one another, a spacer is provided between two adjacent gel bodies so as to provide a clearance therebetween, and the solvent is then removed from the gel bodies.

Abstract: A mold for manufacturing a body made of a porous material derived from precursors of the porous material in a sol-gel process carried out within the mold can have a lower part defining an interior volume for receiving the precursors of the porous material, wherein the interior volume defines the shape of the body to be manufactured, and at least a first opening through which the body is removable from the lower part. Surfaces of the lower part facing the interior volume are at least partially provided with a coating made of a material that is electrically dissipative and non-sticky to a gel formed from the precursors of the porous material and/or the body.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a body made of a porous material derived from precursors of the porous material in a sol-gel process, including (i) providing a mold, containing a lower part defining an interior volume for receiving the precursors of the porous material, wherein the lower part comprises a first opening, and surfaces of the lower part facing the interior volume are at least partially provided with a coating made of a material being electrically dissipative and non-sticky to the precursors of the porous material and/or the body, (ii) filling precursors of the porous material into the lower part in a first inert or ventilated region, wherein the precursors include two reactive components and a solvent, (iii) removing the body from the lower part through the first opening after a predetermined time, (iv) disposing the body onto a support, and (v) removing the solvent from the body.

Abstract: A process for purifying a polycarbodiimide comprising (a) providing a mixture comprising a polycarbodiimide and a carbodiimidization catalyst; (b) separating carbodiimidization catalyst from the polycarbodiimide by subjecting the mixture according to (a) to a first distillation, (c) adding an entrainer to the first bottom product obtained from (b) to obtain a mixture; (d) further separating carbodiimidization catalyst from the polycarbodiimide by subjecting the mixture obtained from (c) to a second distillation.

Abstract: A process for producing a polycarbodiimide, comprising polymerizing a diisocyanate in the presence of a carbodiimidization catalyst in a reaction vessel in liquid phase at a temperature in the range of from 20 to 250° C., at a pressure in the range of from 20 to 800 mbar and in the presence of at least one inert gas, wherein the at least one inert gas is introduced into the liquid phase in the reaction vessel with a flow rate in the range of from 0.1 x/h to 100 x/h, x being the volume of the reaction vessel.

Abstract: A process for producing a polycarbodiimide, comprising polymerizing a diisocyanate in the presence of a carbodiimidization catalyst in a reaction vessel in liquid phase at a temperature in the range of from 20 to 250° C., at a pressure in the range of from 20 to 800 mbar and in the presence of at least one inert gas, wherein the at least one inert gas is introduced into the liquid phase in the reaction vessel with a flow rate in the range of from 0.1 x/h to 100 x/h, x being the volume of the reaction vessel.

Abstract: A process for purifying a polycarbodiimide comprising (a) providing a mixture comprising a polycarbodiimide and a carbodiimidization catalyst; (b) separating carbodiimidization catalyst from the polycarbodiimide by subjecting the mixture according to (a) to a first distillation, (c) adding an entrainer to the first bottom product obtained from (b) to obtain a mixture; (d) further separating carbodiimidization catalyst from the polycarbodiimide by subjecting the mixture obtained from (c) to a second distillation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of composites, composed of at least one outer layer b) and of an isocyanate-based rigid foam a), where the outer layer b) is moved continuously and the starting material for the isocyanate-based rigid foam a) is applied to the outer layer b), which comprises achieving the application of the liquid starting material for the isocyanate-based rigid foam a) by means of at least one fixed tube c) which has openings f) and which has been placed, with respect to the outer layer b), so as to be parallel to the plane of the outer layer and at right angles to the direction of movement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of composites, composed of at least one outer layer b) and of an isocyanate-based rigid foam a), where the outer layer b) is moved continuously and the starting material for the isocyanate-based rigid foam a) is applied to the outer layer b), which comprises achieving the application of the liquid starting material for the isocyanate-based rigid foam a) by means of at least one fixed tube c) which has openings f) and which has been placed, with respect to the outer layer b), so as to be parallel to the plane of the outer layer and at right angles to the direction of movement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of composites, composed of at least one outer layer b) and of an isocyanate-based rigid foam a), where the outer layer b) is moved continuously and the starting material for the isocyanate-based rigid foam a) is applied to the outer layer b), which comprises achieving the application of the liquid starting material for the isocyanate-based rigid foam a) by means of at least one fixed tube c) which has openings f) and which has been placed, with respect to the outer layer b), so as to be parallel to the plane of the outer layer and at right angles to the direction of movement.

Abstract: A method for extracting bulk material from a container which is open at the top by means of a suction apparatus which comprises at least one suction pipe (10) and one or more scrapers (12), with the suction apparatus being laid from above onto the surface of the bulk material in the container and bulk material being sucked away through the at least one suction pipe (10), wherein, during a repeated relative rotational movement between the scraper (12) and the surface of the bulk material in the container, bulk material is conveyed along the one or more scrapers (12) in the direction of the at least one suction pipe (10).

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of composites, composed of at least one outer layer b) and of an isocyanate-based rigid foam a), where the outer layer b) is moved continuously and the starting material for the isocyanate-based rigid foam a) is applied to the outer layer b), which comprises achieving the application of the liquid starting material for the isocyanate-based rigid foam a) by means of at least one fixed tube c) which has openings f) and which has been placed, with respect to the outer layer b), so as to be parallel to the plane of the outer layer and at right angles to the direction of movement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing mixtures of polyols for further processing to give polyurethanes, comprising at least one graft polyol, which comprises carrying out the mixing of the polyols between the preparation of the polyols and the preparation of the polyurethanes, by means of a continuous mixing process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the admixture of additives to structural polyurethane components, which comprises continuously feeding the additives and the structural polyurethane components to a mixing apparatus, and continuously removing the resultant mixture from the mixing apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing hollow molded bodies in a tool support, comprising the following steps: (i) the initial components used for producing the molded body are poured into a mold (iv) that is provided with a core (v) defining the hollow space of the molded body; (ii) the mold (iv) is opened, die molded body being retained by the core (v); (iii) the molded body is removed from the core (v) by removing the molded body from the core (v) outside the mold (iv).

Abstract: A kit and teaching method for creating an artwork includes instructing the user to mark a surface with a line to divide the surface into sections, and to draw a pattern or patterns from provided samples within one of the sections. The user is then instructed to repeat this pattern in one or more other sections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of cotton rats and Syrian hamsters as models for adenoviral gene therapy. In particular, the models are directed to the examination of the ability of various replicative, non-replicative and conditionally-replicative adenovirus vectors to treat cancer.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for predicting cognitive performance of an individual based on factors including preferably sleep history and the time of day. The method facilitates the creation of predicted cognitive preformance curves that allow an individual to set his/her sleep times to produce higher levels of cognitive performance. The method also facilitates the reconstruction of past cognitive performance levels based on sleep history.