Method for producing aerogels

Claim 1

A CONTINUOUS PROCESS OF PRODUCING INORGANIC AEROGELS WHICH COMPRISES CONTINUOUSLY FEEDING UNDER PRESSURE A LIQUID, INORGANIC-AEROGEL PRECURSOR CONTAINING A LIQUID PHASE HAVING A CRITICAL TEMPERATURE BELOW 500*C. INTO A HEATED ZONE WHICH IS HEATED TO MAINTAIN IT AT A TEMPERATURE VARYING FROM ABOUT THE CRITICAL TEMPERATURE OF THE LIQUID PHASE IN SAID PRECURSOR UP TO BUT NOT IN EXCESS OF 500* C., WHEREBY AS A RESULT OF SAID FEEDING STEP AND THE FORMATION OF VAPORS FROM SAID LIQUID PHASE A STATE OF TURBULENT FLOW IS PRODUCED, CONTINUOUSLY HEATING SAID PRECURSOR IN SAID HEATED ZONE WHILE IN SAID STATE OF TURBULENT FLOW AT A PRESSURE ABOVE THE CRITICAL PRESSURE OF THE LIQUID PHASE OF THE PRECURSOR UNTIL SAID PRECURSOR IS CONVERTED TO VAPORS AND AEROGEL PARTICLES AND CONTINUOUSLY FLOWING SAID VAPORS AND AEROGEL PARTICLES AT THE AFORESAID TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE FROM THE FIRST HEATED ZONE INTO A SECOND HEATED ZONE MAINTAINED AT A TEMPERATURE ABOVE THE TEMPERATURE AT WHICH CONDENSATION OF THE VAPORS ON THE AEROGEL OCCURS AND AT A PRESSURE BETWEEN ABOUT 1 AND 2 ATMOSPHERES OF PRESSURE ABSOLUTE AND THEREAFTER SEPARATING THE VAPORS FROM THE AEROGEL PARTICLES AT A TEMPERATURE ABOVE THE TEMPERATURE AT WHICH SAID VAPORS CONDENSE ON SAID AEROGEL PARTICLES.