Abstract: The invention relates to a process for generating a porous material having homogeneous, gas-containing inclusions in the micrometer and sub-micrometer range, and also to the material produced by such process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a polyurethane foam, where the blowing agent used is present in the supercritical or near-critical state. A reaction mixture is introduced into a closed mould, where the closed mould has been set up in such a way that its interior volume and/or the pressure prevailing in its interior can be altered after the introduction of the mixture by external influence. Through the selection of the surfactant it is possible to obtain microemulsions of the blowing agent in the polyol phase. The invention further relates to a nanocellular polyurethane foam obtainable by the process of the invention.

Abstract: A process for producing a polyurethane foam with bimodal cell size distribution, comprising the following steps: providing a mixture in a mixing head, where the mixture comprises: A) a component reactive towards isocyanates; B) a surfactant component; C) a blowing agent component selected from the group consisting of linear, branched or cyclic C1- to C6-alkanes, linear, branched or cyclic C1- to C6-fluoroalkanes, N2, O2, argon and/or CO2, where blowing agent component C) is present in the supercritical or near-critical state; D) a polyisocyanate component; discharging the mixture comprising components A), B), C), and D) from the mixing head where, during the discharge of the mixture, the pressure prevailing in the mixture is lowered to atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A process for operating an internal combustion engine or a nozzle includes producing a fuel mixture in-situ. The fuel mixture consists of a polar component A, a nonpolar fuel component B, an amphiphilic component C, and an auxiliary component D. The fuel mixture is produced in a high-pressure region of an injection system of an internal combustion engine or of a nozzle within 10 seconds of an injection operation. The fuel mixture is injected into the internal combustion engine or the nozzle. A pressure is in a range of from 100 to 4,000 bar.

Abstract: A method for producing rigid sugar micro-/nanofoams includes providing a solution with at least one sugar, a super- or near-critical fluid and a surfactant component as a (micro)emulsion. The (micro)emulsion is expanded so as to convert the super- or near-critical fluid from a state of liquid-like density to a state of gaseous density so as to thereby obtain a micro-/nanofoam. The micro-/nanofoam is then rigidified so as to obtain a rigid sugar micro-/nanofoam.

Abstract: The invention relates to bicontinuous microemulsions and to the use thereof as a fuel, combustion or heating fluid. Said fuels permit an increased efficiency of internal combustion systems and heating installations of any type and, simultaneously, a minimized emission of pollutants, associated with combustion, to be obtained.

Abstract: The present invention describes organic electronic devices in which at least one organic layer of low refractive index is introduced. The light output of the electronic devices is thereby improved.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for increasing the efficiency of surfactants as well as to a method for suppressing lamellar mesophases in microemulsions. According to the invention, block copolymers having a water-soluble block A and a water-insoluble part B are admixed to the surfactants. The use of these substances as additives can considerably increase the efficiency of the surfactants. Moreover, the addition of the block copolymers suppresses the formation of undesired lamellar mesophases in microemulsions.

Abstract: The present invention describes organic electronic devices in which at least one organic layer off low refractive index is introduced. The light output of the electronic devices is thereby improved.

Abstract: The invention relates to bicontinuous microemulsions and to the use thereof as a fuel, combustion or heating fluid. Said fuels permit an increased efficiency of internal combustion systems and heating installations of any type and, simultaneously, a minimized emission of pollutants, associated with combustion, to be obtained.

Abstract: The invention relates to a foamed material and to a method for the production of said foamed material. According to the inventive method, foamed material is produced with nanosized foam bubbles Z1 without the need to surmount the energy barrier which usually occurs during phase transitions and nucleation processes. The aim of the invention is to produce a foamed material in a controlled manner, said material having a foam bubble density of 1012-1018 per cm3 and an average foam bubble diameter of 10 nm-10 ?m hat. The inventive method is based on the dispersion of a second fluid K2 the form of pools Po in a matrix of a first fluid K1 involving supramolecular interaction of an amphiphile K3. The first fluid K1 is provided as a matrix in the reaction chamber RK and the second fluid K2 is provided in pools. The second fluid K2 is transformed into a near-critical or overcritical state with a near-liquid density by modifying the pressure and/or temperature.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for increasing the efficiency of surfactants as well as to a method for suppressing lamellar mesophases in microemulsions. According to the invention, block copolymers having a water-soluble block A and a water-insoluble part B are admixed to the surfactants. The use of these substances as additives can considerably increase the efficiency of the surfactants. Moreover, the addition of the block copolymers suppresses the formation of undesired lamellar mesophases in microemulsions.