Nanjing Chemical Material Corp.
Service
Products

China Expandable Microspheres—A Multifunctional New Foaming Agent China Expandable Microspheres—A Multifunctional New Foaming Agent

China Expandable Microspheres Expansion Principle


China expandable microsphere's Full name is thermoplastic expandable microspheres. These are thermally expandable micro capsules with a core-shell structure, consisting of a shell of thermoplastic polymer encapsulating a low-boiling point solvent (liquid hydrocarbon gas or other compounds). Their diameter is usually between 10~50μm. When heated, their volume can rapidly expand to several times their original size and, after cooling, they can maintain the expanded volume without shrinking back. China expandable microspheres are ideal lightweight fillers and physical foaming agents, and have been widely used in coating printing, foam industry, textile industry, construction, automotive manufacturing, aerospace, etc.


Expansion Principle


At room temperature, the shell of the microsphere is hard. When the microsphere is heated, as the temperature rises, the liquid hydrocarbon gradually vaporizes, increasing the internal pressure of the sphere. When the temperature rises to the glass transition temperature of the polymer shell, the shell softens, and the microsphere begins to expand due to the pressure difference between the inside and outside until the pressure inside and outside the sphere reaches a balance, at which point expansion stops, achieving the maximum foaming state. If heating continues, the mechanical strength of the polymer shell decreases, causing the microsphere to shrink and rupture, releasing the gas inside the shell.


Applications of China Expandable Microspheres


Three-Dimensional Printing Patterns


Due to the excellent foaming properties of  expandable microspheres China, when added to printing ink or paint, they can achieve controllable foaming by controlling the particle size of the microspheres and the expansion temperature. Different particle sizes of microspheres can bring different surface appearances and tactile sensations, thereby obtaining three-dimensional effects, special velvet surfaces, suede effects, and frosted touches. They are widely used in ink printing, fabric dyeing, Braille embossing, wallpaper, leather, etc.; they can also be added to anti-slip agents, coated on the surface of paper, non-woven fabrics, textiles, etc., to make anti-slip mats, carpets, corrugated paper, etc.


Lightweight Materials


China expandable microspheres, as ideal lightweight fillers for plastics and rubber, and with good resilience, are applied in extrusion or injection foaming of thermoplastic materials such as PE, PP, PVC, PET, TPR, TPU, etc. They can increase product volume, improve insulation performance, reduce density, and enhance heat resistance and compressive strength. They are widely used in wine bottle stoppers, automotive parts, lightweight clay, foamed shoe materials, foamed rubber, sealing strips, cables, tires, artificial marble, porous ceramics, emulsified explosives, and other industrial production.


Functional Coatings


China expandable microspheres can be added to corresponding coatings to act as protective layers, giving the product certain elasticity and resilience, impact resistance, and other special properties. For example, they can be used in automotive underbody armor paint to reduce the weight of the car chassis by 50%, while improving its corrosion resistance and reducing noise, significantly lowering fuel consumption and costs. They can also be used in leather coatings, clothing linings, automotive interiors, anti-crack agents, and fire-resistant coatings.


Other Applications


Adhesives/Thermal Release Tapes


In many application fields, different materials need to be combined and separated. By adding thermally expandable polymer microspheres to adhesives, thermal release at connection points can be achieved. Thermal release tapes have adhesive power under normal conditions; once heated, the adhesive power disappears, allowing for easy removal without damaging components, making them widely used in the electronics manufacturing field.


Semiconductor CMP Polishing Pads


China expandable microspheres can be used to make CMP polishing pads. CMP technology is a process that achieves the required surface flatness of polished materials through the combined actions of chemicals and mechanics, with the polishing pad being an important component.

Related News
  • Live Up to the Spring and Steadily Progress丨2023 NCMC Annual Meeting Successfully Held!

    Live Up to the Spring and Steadily Progress丨2023 NCMC Annual Meeting Successfully Held!

    July 29, 2024Stay true to the mission and pursue our dream.In the beginning of 2024, NCMC held its annual meeting and celebration as scheduled, all NCMCer gathered together to look back on 2023 and look forward to...view
  • Do You Know  about Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate?

    Do You Know about Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate?

    September 24, 2020Sodium dodecyl sulfate is a white to yellowish powder with a special slight smell. It is easily soluble in water, slightly soluble in ethanol, and almost insoluble in chloroform, ether and light petro...view
  • 2018 Asia Petrochemical Industry Conference

    2018 Asia Petrochemical Industry Conference

    January 29, 2019August 20-21, 2018 Kuala Lumpur Convention Center MalaysiaAPIC 2018 (Asia Petrochemical Industry Conference, APIC) is making a return to the vibrant city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 20 - 21 August...view
  • Applications of Cinnamic Acid

    Applications of Cinnamic Acid

    August 18, 2021The role of cinnamic acid in flavors and fragrances1. Apple and cherry can be used as apple essence, cherry essence, fruit flavor, and flower fragrance.2. It can be used as an aromatic mixture in soap...view
  • Preservative Effect of Cocoamido Propil Betaina

    Preservative Effect of Cocoamido Propil Betaina

    May 17, 2021Cocoamido propil betaina, also known as coconut betaine (abbreviated CAPB), is a coconut oil derivative that is a viscous yellow liquid produced when raw coconut oil is mixed with a naturally derived ...view
  • Ortho-cresol Formaldehyde Epoxy Resin

    Ortho-cresol Formaldehyde Epoxy Resin

    August 18, 2021O-methyl phenolic epoxy resin (EOCN) is a kind of linear phenolic epoxy resin with heat-resistant multifunctional groups prepared by the reaction of O-methyl phenolic resin (OCN) and epichlorohydrin (...view
  • TEL:+86-25-52337978
  • EMAIL: info@njchm.com
  • ADDRESS:12/F, Block B, Technology and Innovation Building, Nanjing University of Technology, No.5 New Model Road, Nanjing 210009, China