Patent ID: 7635411

Claim:
Hydrophobic aerogels coated with at least one wetting agent contained in water, wherein said at least one wetting agent is present in an amount of from about 0.05 to about 0.5 parts by wt. per each part by wt. of said aerogels, said hydrophobic aerogels have an average particle diameter of from about 0.03 mm to about 1 mm, and said at least one wetting agent is selected from the group consisting of alkyldimethyl amine oxides, alkoxylates polyoxyalkylene fatty ethers, sorbitan esters, mono and diglycerides, polyoxyethylene sorbitol esters, Hypermen polymer surfactants, sodium coco-PG-dimonium chloride phosphate, coamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphate, phosphate esters, polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters, nonionic esters formed by reaction of ethylene oxide and unsaturated fatty acids and heterocyclic resin acids, alcohol ethoxylates, alcohol alkoxylates, ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymers, and polyoxyethylene derivatives of sorbitan esters, or combinations thereof.