Abstract: The present invention relates to thermally expandable microspheres at least partially prepared from bio-based monomers and to a process of their manufacture. The microspheres comprise a thermoplastic polymer shell encapsulating a blowing agent, wherein the thermoplastic polymer shell comprises a polymer being a homo- or copolymer of a lactone according to formula (1): wherein each of R1, R2, R3, R4, separately from one another, is selected from the group consisting of H and an alkyl group preferably with 1-4 carbon atoms. The invention further provides expanded microspheres, which can be used in a variety of applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to thermally expandable microspheres at least partially prepared from bio-based monomers and to a process of their manufacture. The microspheres comprise a thermoplastic polymer shell encapsulating a blowing agent, wherein the thermoplastic polymer shell comprises a polymer being a homo- or copolymer of a lactone according to formula (1): wherein each of R1, R2, R3, R4, separately from one another, is selected from the group consisting of H and an alkyl group preferably with 1-4 carbon atoms. The invention further provides expanded microspheres, which can be used in a variety of applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to thermally expandable microspheres at least partially prepared from bio-based monomers and to a process of their manufacture. The microspheres comprise a thermoplastic polymer shell encapsulating a blowing agent, wherein the thermoplastic polymer shell comprises a polymer being a homo- or copolymer of a lactone according to formula (1): wherein each of R1, R2, R3, R4, separately from one another, is selected from the group consisting of H and an alkyl group preferably with 1-4 carbon atoms. The invention further provides expanded microspheres, which can be used in a variety of applications.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides thermally expandable microspheres at least partially prepared from bio-based monomers and a process of their manufacture. The microspheres include a thermoplastic polymer shell encapsulating a blowing agent. The thermoplastic polymer shell includes a copolymer of an itaconate dialkylester and at least one aliphatic or aromatic mono-ethylenically unsaturated comonomer. The itaconate dialkylester has the formula (1): where each of R1 and R2, separately from one another, is an alkyl group having 1-4 carbon atoms, and the copolymer includes 0-50 wt. % of vinyl aromatic comonomers, based on the total weight of the comonomers. The present disclosure further provides expanded microspheres usable in a variety of applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to thermally expandable microspheres at least partially prepared from bio-based monomers and to a process of their manufacture. The microspheres comprise a thermoplastic polymer shell encapsulating a blowing agent, wherein the thermoplastic polymer shell comprises a copolymer of an itaconate dialkylester and at least one aliphatic or aromatic mono-ethylenically unsaturated comonomer, wherein the itaconate dialkylester is according to formula (1): wherein each of R1 and R2, separately from one another, is an alkyl group preferably with 1-4 carbon atoms, and wherein the copolymer contains 0-50 wt. % of vinyl aromatic comonomers, based on the total weight of the comonomers. The invention further provides expanded microspheres, which can be used in a variety of applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to thermally expandable microspheres at least partially prepared from bio-based monomers and to a process of their manufacture. The microspheres comprise a thermoplastic polymer shell encapsulating a blowing agent, wherein the thermoplastic polymer shell comprises a polymer being a homo- or copolymer of a lactone according to formula (1): wherein each of R1, R2, R3, R4, separately from one another, is selected from the group consisting of H and an alkyl group preferably with 1-4 carbon atoms. The invention further provides expanded microspheres, which can be used in a variety of applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to thermally expandable thermoplastic microspheres comprising a polymer shell made from ethylenically unsaturated monomers encapsulating a propellant, said ethylenically unsaturated monomers comprising from 21 to 80 wt % of methacrylamide and from 20 to 70 wt % methacrylonitrile, the total amount of methacrylamide and methacrylonitrile being from 70 to 100 wt % of the ethylenically unsaturated monomers. Furthermore, the invention relates to production and use of such microspheres.

Abstract: The present invention relates to thermally expandable thermoplastic microspheres comprising a polymer shell made from ethylenically unsaturated monomers encapsulating a propellant, said ethylenically unsaturated monomers comprising from 21 to 80 wt % of methacrylamide and from 20 to 70 wt % methacrylonitrile, the total amount of methacrylamide and methacrylonitrile being from 70 to 100 wt % of the ethylenically unsaturated monomers. Furthermore, the invention relates to production and use of such microspheres.

Abstract: The invention relates to thermally expandable thermoplastic microspheres comprising a polymer shell made from ethylenically unsaturated monomers encapsulating a propellant, said ethylenically unsaturated monomers comprising from 40 to 70 wt % of acrylonitrile, from 5 to 40 wt % of methacrylonitrile, from 10 to 50 wt % of monomers selected from the group consisting of esters of acrylic acid, esters of methacrylic acid and mixtures thereof, and said propellant comprising at least one of methane, ethane, propane, isobutane, n-butane and neo-pentane. The invention further relates to the production and use of the microspheres.

Abstract: The invention relates to thermally expandable thermoplastic microspheres comprising a polymer shell made from ethylenically unsaturated monomers encapsulating a propellant, said ethylenically unsaturated monomers comprising from 20 to 80 wt % of acrylonitrile, from 20 to 80 wt % of monomers selected from the group consisting of esters of acrylic acid, from 0 to 10 wt % of methacrylonitrile, from 0 to 40 wt % of monomers selected from the group consisting of esters of methacrylic acid, the total amount of acrylonitrile and esters of acrylic acid constituting from 50 to 100 wt % of said ethylenically unsaturated monomers, and said propellant comprising at least one of methane, ethane, propane, isobutane, n-butane and isopentane. The invention further relates to the production and use of the microspheres.

Abstract: The invention relates to thermally expandable thermoplastic microspheres comprising a polymer shell made from ethylenically unsaturated monomers encapsulating a propellant, said ethylenically unsaturated monomers comprising from 40 to 70 wt % of acrylonitrile, from 5 to 40 wt % of methacrylonitrile, from 10 to 50 wt % of monomers selected from the group consisting of esters of acrylic acid, esters of methacrylic acid and mixtures thereof, and said propellant comprising at least one of methane, ethane, propane, isobutane, n-butane and neo-pentane. The invention further relates to the production and use of the microspheres.

Abstract: The invention relates to thermally expandable thermoplastic microspheres comprising a polymer shell made from ethylenically unsaturated monomers encapsulating a propellant, said ethylenically unsaturated monomers comprising from 40 to 70 wt % of acrylonitrile, from 5 to 40 wt % of methacrylonitrile, from 10 to 50 wt % of monomers selected from the group consisting of esters of acrylic acid, esters of methacrylic acid and mixtures thereof, and said propellant comprising at least one of methane, ethane, propane, isobutane, n-butane and neo-pentane. The invention further relates to the production and use of the microspheres.

Abstract: The invention relates to a solid powdery composition comprising unexpanded thermally expandable microspheres including a thermoplastic polymer shell encapsulating a propellant and from about 0.1 to about 50 wt % of at least one inhibitor selected from the group consisting of acids having a melting point below about 200° C. and precursors therefore. The invention further relates to preparation and use thereof, a composition comprising a polymeric resin, preparation thereof, a process for working a polymeric resin and a material obtainable thereby.

Abstract: The invention relates to thermally expandable thermoplastic microspheres comprising a polymer shell made from ethylenically unsaturated monomers encapsulating a propellant, said ethylenically unsaturated monomers comprising from 20 to 80 wt % of acrylonitrile, from 20 to 80 wt % of monomers selected from the group consisting of esters of acrylic acid, from 0 to 10 wt % of methacrylonitrile, from 0 to 40 wt % of monomers selected from the group consisting of esters of methacrylic acid, the total amount of acrylonitrile and esters of acrylic acid constituting from 50 to 100 wt % of said ethylenically unsaturated monomers, and said propellant comprising at least one of methane, ethane, propane, isobutane, n-butane and isopentane. The invention further relates to the production and use of the microspheres.

Abstract: The invention relates to thermally expandable thermoplastic microspheres comprising a polymer shell made from ethylenically unsaturated monomers encapsulating a propellant, said ethylenically unsaturated monomers comprising from 20 to 80 wt % of acrylonitrile and from 1 to 70 wt % of vinyl ether having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond, the total amount of acrylonitrile and vinyl ether having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond being from 30 to 100 wt % of the ethylenically unsaturated monomers.

Abstract: The invention relates to thermally expandable thermoplastic microspheres comprising a polymer shell made from ethylenically unsaturated monomers encapsulating a propellant, said ethylenically unsaturated monomers comprising from 40 to 70 wt % of acrylonitrile, from 5 to 40 wt % of methacrylonitrile, from 10 to 50 wt % of monomers selected from the group consisting of esters of acrylic acid, esters of methacrylic acid and mixtures thereof, and said propellant comprising at least one of methane, ethane, propane, isobutane, n-butane and neo-pentane. The invention further relates to the production and use of the microspheres.

Abstract: The invention relates to a solid powdery composition comprising unexpanded thermally expandable microspheres including a thermoplastic polymer shell encapsulating a propellant and from about 0.1 to about 50 wt % of at least one inhibitor selected from the group consisting of acids having a melting point below about 200° C. and precursors therefore. The invention further relates to preparation and use thereof, a composition comprising a polymeric resin, preparation thereof, a process for working a polymeric resin and a material obtainable thereby.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of expandable thermoplastic microspheres comprising a step of contacting microspheres comprising a thermoplastic polymer shell encapsulating a propellant and further comprising residual monomers, with an agent reacting directly or indirectly with at least part of said residual monomers, wherein said agent is selected from the group consisting of oxo acids of sulfur, salts and derivatives thereof, comprising at least one sulfur atom having at least one free electron pair and binding three oxygen atoms. The invention further relates to novel expandable thermoplastic microspheres.