Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Aerogel Technologies Corporation

Other

Lukla Inc.

Chalkless, Inc.

Stephen A Steiner, Iii

Brian Lee Wardle

Justin S Griffin

Ryan T Nelson

Moriah C Buckwalter

Benjamin H Wunsch

Richard Li

John N Schneider

James Michael Pidhurney

David Gregory Pope

The present disclosure generally relates to polymer-aerogel/fiber composite materials, polymer-aerogel/textile composite materials, and systems and methods for producing them. The gel material can comprise, in some embodiments, a network of polymer. The fiber and/or textile material can comprise at least one of any natural, synthetic, and/or mineral fiber. In some cases, certain combinations of materials, solvents, and/or processing steps may be synergistically employed so as to enable manufacture of materials suitable for use in apparel, soft goods, and other consumer applications which may benefit from the properties of a polymer-aerogel/fiber composite and/or the polymer-aerogel/textile composite.

Polymer-aerogel/fiber and polymer-aerogel/textile composites and related systems and methods

Aerogels comprising a hydrophobic polyimide moiety, including hydrophobic polyimide aerogels, as well as methods of manufacture and applications thereof, are generally described.

Hydrophobic polyimide aerogels

Particulate aerogel material kit for grip enhancement, and related systems and methods, are generally described. Certain embodiments are related to interfaces comprising human skin, a layer of particulate aerogel material, and a solid surface. Methods of creating such interfaces, packaging the particulate aerogel material, and applications thereof (including kits for grip enhancement) are also described.

Particulate aerogel material kit for grip enhancement

Systems and methods for producing aerogel materials are generally described. In certain cases, the methods do not require supercritical drying as part of the manufacturing process. In some cases, certain combinations of materials, solvents, and/or processing steps may be synergistically employed so as to enable manufacture of large (e.g., meter-scale), substantially crack free, and/or mechanically strong aerogel materials.

Systems and methods for producing aerogel materials

Systems and methods for the formation of carbon-based nanostructures are generally described. In some embodiments, the nanostructures may be formed on a nanopositor. The nanopositor can comprise, in some embodiments, at least one of metal atoms in a non-zero oxidation state and metalloid atoms in a non-zero oxidation state. For example, the nanopositor may comprise a metal oxide, a metalloid oxide, a metal chalcogenide, a metalloid chalcogenide, and the like. The carbon-based nanostructures may be grown by exposing the nanopositor, in the presence or absence of a growth substrate, to a set of conditions selected to cause formation of carbon-based nanostructures on the nanopositor. In some embodiments, metal or metalloid atoms in a non-zero oxidation state are not reduced to a zero oxidation state during the formation of the carbon-based nanostructures. In some cases, metal or metalloid atoms in a non-zero oxidation state do not form a carbide during the formation of the carbon-based nanostructures.

Systems and methods related to the formation of carbon-based nanostructures

Systems and methods for the formation of nanostructures, including carbon-based nanostructures, are generally described. In certain embodiments, substrate configurations and associated methods are described.

Systems and methods for growth of nanostructures on substrates, including substrates comprising fibers

A rapid gelation, two-step method for the production of an aerogel precursor is disclosed. The method involves the addition of a small amount of catalyst during mixing of alcogel components in order to allow some pre-polymerization to occur. Next, the addition of the remainder of the catalyst quickly forms or gels the solution into the alcogel. The gelation of the solution to form the alcogel typically takes place in 5 to 60 seconds, but can be done in under 1 second and in as long as several hours. The gel time can be controlled specifically by adjusting the chemical contents of the solution and the amount of time between the two additions of catalyst. The resulting alcogel can then be processed further to form an aerogel which can be put to use in many unique applications including fabrics, insulative blocks, and microchips.

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, MA, United States of America

Stephen A Steiner, Iii