Front Microspheres Co Ltd

1. What is Front® Microspheres?

Front® expandable microspheres are small spherical plastic particles. The microspheres consist of a polymer shell encapsulating hydrocarbon gas. When heated, the internal pressure from the gas increases and the thermoplastic shell softens, resulting in a great increase of the volume of the microspheres. The gas remains inside the spheres.

Expansion of Front® microspheres. This results in a dramatic decrease of the density. Typical values are from 1000 kg/m³ down to 20 kg/m³.

2. Why use Front® microspheres in your product?

Expandable Microspheres can give your product that extra advantages in different ways depending on your application. Here are some of the benefits that can be achieved with Front® microspheres:

 Reduced cost
 Density reduction
 Closed-cell structure
 Elasticity
 Compressibility
 Surface modification

3. Expansion Mechanism

In the Front® range of expandable microspheres there are grades available with expansion temperatures in the range of 100 to 230°C. The different thermomechanical behavior of the various Front® grades makes it possible to select an optimal grade for each process and application. Front® can normally be stored for a long time at room temperature without negative effects on the properties, but very high temperatures should be avoided.

Expandable Microspheres used as Foaming Agent

Microsphere can be used as a foaming agent, providing your product with a controlled foam structure. Not only do Front Microspheres increase the volume, they also promise highly controlled foaming and a closed, uniform cell structure when used as a foaming agent. In some applications, this guarantee less water/gas penetration.

Compared to chemical blowing agents, Front Expandable Microspheres’ fine, uniform cells achieves a more controlled result on foamed end products. However, if your application want both effect, Front can be mixed with chemical or physical blowing agents to achieve the target properties.

Microspheres are thermoplastic particles with shells that encapsulates gas. This will make your product more economic, light and numerous other benefits.

Expandable Microspheres expand at temperatures ranging from 100°C - 200°C for a range of advantages and a lost of applications.

Benefits
 Fine close cellular foam structure;
 Stable foaming when processing
 Nice surface finishes for products;
 Different particle sizes for different surface results, smooth, less smooth and rough;
 Improve insulation properties, sound damping, heat insultation and light reflection;

Expandable Microspheres used as lightweight filler

Front Microspheres is a super lightweight filler, which will add volume dramatically with small dosage in weight, without losing much of the original properties of your products. Our lightweight fillers allow you to substitute heavier substances with small portions of Front expanded microspheres and achieve better overall results, saving raw material costs in the process.

This photo shows 10 grams Front microspheres and glass microspheres at different densities. The expanded microspheres can be added in much lower quantities by weight than glass microspheres to reach the same volume.

Expandable microsphere vs glass
Benefits of Expanded Mircrospheres

 Cost saving;
 Less binder/resin required;
 Excellent flexibility for thermosets application;
 Easy for sanding;

Product Series
DRY EXPANDED MICROSPHERES
Dry Expanded Expandable Microspheres are super light weight product, used for weight reduction, improve elasticity, etc.

WET EXPANDED MICROSPHERES
Wet Expanded Microspheres are used in waterborne products, for less binder requirements, improve the solar reflectance, and etc.

CA-COATED EXPANDED MICROSPHERES
It is an expanded microsphre coated with calcium carbonate, which is less dusting, used in adhesives, composite, etc.