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Our unexpanded microspheres are used as expanding agent (or foaming

agent) in many applications. Below are examples of where Expancel can
be used - and the effects you can get.
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS ADVANTAGES WITH EXPANCEL*
Articial leather Surface modications such as suede and nubuck effects
Genuine leather Outstanding lling capacity, very low shrinkage, very good bufng properties,
good exibility, soft touch feeling
Lightweight foam Good shock absorbance and recovery
Microcellular PU foams Reduced weight, controlled and uniform foam structure
Nonwoven for composites Cost savings, reduced weight, good insulation, increased dimensional stability,
increased bulk and thickness
Paper and board Improved bulk, bending stiffness, thermal insulation. Coated applications can
give soft touch and anti-slip
Porous ceramics Controlled and uniform pore structure
Printing ink for wallpaper, fabrics and textiles 3D effects, matting, peach or suede look.
Sheets, boards and proles Closed cells, foam stability, reduced weight, cost saving potential
Shoe soles Reduced weight, matt surface, improved wearing comfort due to unique cell
structure
Silicone rubber Cost savings, reduced weight, uniform and closed cell structure, dry surface
Thermal release material Debonding at elevated temperatures
Underbody coatings Improved stone chip resistance and sound dampning, low UBC weight helps
cut fuel consumption
Wine stoppers of cork granules Improved compressibility
Wine stoppers, plastic Reduced weight, density control, better elasticity
Wood plastic composites Reduced weight, easier to saw and drill
Expancel is a product with
endless possibilities. It is a
multi-performance additive that
gives a multitude of advantages
to numerous applications. In
this leaet we give you some
examples of what Expancel can
do for you.
Our idea is not just to supply a high quality product. We
also provide a very good knowledge of our microspheres
and their use. Both in the form of application support and
as technical handling assistance. Often we work closely
together with our customers in their product development.
We are present all over the world. Headquarters, including
marketing, research and development, production and
technical service, are located in Sweden. We have our own
sales ofces in many countries around the world and other
areas are served through distributors. In order to give fast
and efcient service we also have production facilities in
China and the US.
The product
Expancel comes in many varieties. We have both
unexpanded and expanded grades and they come in wet
or dry form or as masterbatch. All this means that they work
both in systems with heat and without heat, with water and
without. Varying chemical compositions give expansion at
different temperatures. Thanks to different particle sizes you
can get various surface effects, for example matting and
roughness. The very low densities give a weight reduction
even at small dosages.
Contact us, and we can together nd the best Expancel
solution for your product.
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The difference in volume beween unexpanded and expanded
Expancel microspheres at the same weight.
Our expanded microspheres are used as a lightweight ller or to create
specic effects. The below list gives some examples of applications
where Expancel can give advantages to your product.
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS ADVANTAGES WITH EXPANCEL*
Cable lling compound Reduced dielectric constant, reduced water penetration, cost
reduction, reduced weight
Coatings (reective, insulating, elastic) Energy savings through solar reection and thermal insulation,
enhanced durability and weather resistance
Composites Reduced weight, reduced cost / lower resin consumption,
increased stiffness
Crack ller / Spackling compound Sandability, easy to apply, sanding dust less irritating than with
glass microspheres
Cultured marble Reduced weight, less risk of cracks during production, improved
machinability, lower resin consumption
Frost resistant concrete Reliable frost resistance, reduced shrinkage, increased strength
Genuine leather Outstanding lling capacity, very low shrinkage, very good
bufng properties, good exibility, soft touch feeling
Microcellular PU foams Reduced weight, controlled and uniform foam structure
Modeling clay Easty to shape, low shrinkage upon drying
Model making board Cost savings, weight reduction, improved machinability
Paint

Reduced weight, better applicability, higher water vapor perme-
ability, matting effect, low emission of VOC, lower transportation
cost for producer
Paper and board Soft touch
Polyester putty Low volume cost, easy to apply, extraordinary sanding
properties, reduced shrinkage
Porous ceramics Controlled and uniform pore structure
Sealants Cost savings, weight reduction, reduced volume shrinkage
during drying
Silicone rubber Cost savings, reduced weight, uniform and closed cell structure,
dry surface
Underbody coatings Improved stone chip resistance and sound dampning, low UBC
weight helps cut fuel consumption
* It is important that you make your own tests to
nd out what advantages you can achieve with
Expancel. The effects may vary due to matrix,
process conditions, etc.
To nd out more about our microspheres you can
contact us at:
Email: info.expancel@akzonobel.com
Akzo Nobel Pulp and Performance Chemicals AB
Expancel
Box 13000
850 13 Sundsvall
Sweden
Phone: +46-60 13 40 00
Fax: +46-60 56 95 18
www.expancel.com
www.akzonobel.com
www.expancel.com
AkzoNobel is a leading global paints and
coatings company and a major producer of
specialty chemicals. We supply industries and
consumers worldwide with innovative products
and are passionate about developing sustainable
answers for our customers. Our portfolio
includes well-known brands such as Dulux,
Sikkens, International and Eka. Headquartered in
Amsterdam, the Netherlands, we are consistently
ranked as one of the leaders in the area of
sustainability. With operations in more than 80
countries, our 50,000 people around the world
are committed to delivering leading products and
technologies to meet the growing demands of
our fast-changing world.
2013 Akzo Nobel NV. All rights reserved.
Registered trademark of AkzoNobel in a
number of territories. G
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