Method for producing an aerogel material

The present invention relates to a process for producing an aerogel material based on amorphous silica, comprising the following steps:a) preparing a mixture comprising silica sol, alcohol, and a hydrophobizing agent activatable by acid catalysis;b1) adding a base to the mixture formed in step a) and mixing the resulting mixture;b2) gelation of the mixture comprising silica sol obtained in step b2), resulting in the formation of a silica gel, and optional aging of the gel;c) adding a hydrophobization catalyst to the silica gel formed in step b2) and optionally aged, in-situ formation or controlled release of a hydrophobization catalyst, and initiation of the catalyzed hydrophobization of the silica;d) removing the volatile constituents of the mixture formed in step c) by subcritical drying, resulting in the formation of the aerogel material, wherein at least steps b2) to d) are carried out in the same reactor.