METHOD FOR PRODUCING COATING LIQUID AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THERMAL INSULATION MATERIAL

1 . A method comprising:

preparing an emulsion containing a polymer-based emulsifier, a binder resin, and a liquid medium, and aerogel particles;

mixing the emulsion and the aerogel particles to agglomerate at least a portion of the aerogel particles; and

obtaining a coating liquid containing agglomerates of the aerogel particles, the polymer-based emulsifier, the binder resin, and the liquid medium.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein an average diameter of the agglomerates is 2 to 40 times an average diameter of the prepared aerogel particles.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein when a diluted solution obtained by diluting the coating liquid is observed by using an optical microscope, in an area occupied by the aerogel particles and the agglomerates within a visual field of observation, an area occupied by the agglomerates having a diameter of 20 μm or more is 50% or more.

4 . The production method according to claim 1 , wherein a total content of the aerogel particles and the agglomerates in the coating liquid is 70% by volume or more based on a total volume of solid content.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein mixing the emulsion and the aerogel particles further comprises mixing a water-soluble polymer having a hydrophobic group, and

wherein the coating liquid further contains the water-soluble polymer.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

applying the coating liquid on a support to obtain a coating film; and

removing at least a portion of the liquid medium from the coating film to obtain a thermal insulation material.

7 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein the thermal insulation material has a pore volume of 0.15 cm 3 /g or more.

8 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein applying the coating liquid to the support comprises applying a pressure to the coating liquid of more than 1.5 MPa.

9 . A coating liquid comprising agglomerates of aerogel particles, a polymer-based emulsifier, a binder resin, and a liquid medium,

wherein when a diluted solution obtained by diluting the coating liquid is observed by using an optical microscope, in an area occupied by the aerogel particles and the agglomerates within a visual field of observation, an area occupied by the agglomerates having a diameter of 20 μm or more is 50% or more.