Expandable microsphere

Expandable microsphere

The expandable microsphere is a material that can act as a blowing agent when mixed in a product and subsequently heated to cause expansion within the matrix. The expandable microspheres are off-white, can be 6 to 40 micrometers in average diameter and have a density of 900 to 1400 kg/m3. The expandable microspheres are used as a blowing agent in products like e.g. puff ink, automotive underbody coatings or injection molding of thermoplastics. Here the product must be heated at some point in the process for the expandable microspheres to expand.

Expanded microsphere

The expanded microsphere is a material that has been heated to cause expansion. The product acts as a light weight filler in many products. The expanded microspheres are white, can be 15 to 90 micrometers in average diameter and can have a density of 15 to 70 kg/m3. The expanded microspheres are used as a lightweight filler in composite materials such as cultured marble, in waterborne paints and crack fillers/joint compound.

Characteristics

Characteristics that make expandable microspheres unique,

• Ability to expand
• Resilient
• Ultra-low density when expanded
• Closed cells that can be distributed evenly
• Can introduce a pressure in the production process

References

References

1. Patent US 3,615,972 "Expansible thermoplastic polymer particles containing volatile fluid foaming agent and method of foaming the same"
2. Expandable microspheres in inks: advances in look and feel, Asia Pacific Coatings Journal, August 2009, page 32-33
3. "New developments with expandable microspheres", Klas Elfving, Expancel. The Fifth International Conference Blowing agents and Foaming Processes 2003, Rapra.