The magic behind our tiny beads - Expancel® microspheres
Have you heard of expandable microspheres, or wondered what they are all about?
These tiny, spherical particles, made of polymer materials, are widely used as an additive in a wide range of applications. At Nouryon we manufacture our unique version under the globally renowned brand name Expancel® microspheres.
So, what is the magic behind these tiny beads?
Expancel® microspheres are, as it implies, small spherical particles. They consist of a polymer shell encapsulating a gas, just like a balloon containing air. When heated, the pressure from the gas increases, causing the encapsulating shell to soften and allowing the microsphere to expand, similar to inflating a balloon. Just as a balloon's density decreases as it inflates, the expansion of Expancel® microspheres causes a profound decrease in the density of the material. This means that a given weight of material can occupy a significantly larger volume after expansion.
Expansion up to 60 times its original volume
To put it into perspective, a bag of 1 kilo unexpanded Expancel® microspheres can increase up to 60 times in volume after expansion, while still weighing 1 kilo, truly remarkable! What's also remarkable is that this process occurs without any chemical reactions, residues, or VOC emissions during expansion, as the gas remains enclosed within the spheres.
In the context of applications, Expancel® microspheres signifies an exceptional capacity to decrease weight, and produce lighter products, while reducing manufacturing costs by substituting fillers and minimizing the usage of costly resin, which in the end also means a lower overall carbon footprint.
Stay tuned
Learn more about Expancel® microspheres and the endless possibilities it offers, or visit: https://ow.ly/Y0o250Rm24