Abstract: The present invention provides heat-expanded microspheres having high packing efficiency, and a production method thereof. The heat-expanded microspheres are produced by expanding heat-expandable microspheres, which comprise shell of thermoplastic resin and a blowing agent encapsulated therein having a boiling point not higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin and have an average particle size from 1 to 100 micrometer, at a temperature not lower than their expansion initiating temperature, and the heat-expanded microspheres result in a void fraction not higher than 0.70.

Abstract: Heat-expandable microspheres include a shell of thermoplastic resin and a blowing agent encapsulated therein having a boiling point not higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin, have a maximum expanding ratio not lower than 50 times, and are thermally expanded into hollow particulates having a repeated-compression durability not lower than 75 percent. The method of producing the heat-expandable microspheres includes the steps of dispersing an oily mixture containing a polymerizable component and the blowing agent in an aqueous dispersing medium containing a specific water-soluble compound and polymerizing the polymerizable component contained in the oily mixture.

Abstract: A plasma display device is provided with a chassis supporting a PDP on its front surface, circuit boards located within a specific region of the back surface of the chassis, a back cover including an edge portion covering the outside of the specific region of the back surface of the chassis and a projecting portion accommodating the plurality of the circuit boards, and a fan arranged inside a space defined by the projecting portion. The peripheral wall of the projecting portion is provided with a plurality of air inlets and a plurality of air outlets.

Abstract: The present invention provides heat-expanded microspheres having high packing efficiency, and a production method thereof. The heat-expanded microspheres are produced by expanding heat-expandable microspheres, which comprise shell of thermoplastic resin and a blowing agent encapsulated therein having a boiling point not higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin and have an average particle size from 1 to 100 micrometer, at a temperature not lower than their expansion initiating temperature, and the heat-expanded microspheres result in a void fraction not higher than 0.70.

Abstract: Heat-expanded microspheres having high packing efficiency are produced by expanding heat-expandable microspheres, which include a shell of thermoplastic resin and a blowing agent encapsulated therein having a boiling point not higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin and have an average particle size from 1 to 100 micrometer, at a temperature not lower than their expansion initiating temperature, and the heat-expanded microspheres result in a void fraction not higher than 0.70.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing thermo-expansive microspheres comprising a thermoplastic resinous shell and a blowing agent being encapsulated in the shell, the blowing agent which is a fluorine-containing C2-10 compound having ether linkage, being free of chlorine and bromine atoms and gasifying at a temperature not higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin. The thermo-expansive microspheres have preferably an average particle size ranging from 1 to 100 ?m and a CV, or coefficient of variation, of particle size distribution being 30% or less, and a retaining ratio of blowing agent encapsulated being 90% or more.

Abstract: A plasma display device is provided with a chassis supporting a PDP on its front surface, circuit boards located within a specific region of the back surface of the chassis, a back cover including an edge portion covering the outside of the specific region of the back surface of the chassis and a projecting portion accommodating the plurality of the circuit boards, and a fan arranged inside a space defined by the projecting portion. The peripheral wall of the projecting portion is provided with a plurality of air inlets and a plurality of air outlets.

Abstract: A production process for heat-expanded microspheres includes the step of providing a gaseous fluid containing heat-expandable microspheres, which includes a shell of thermoplastic resin and a blowing agent encapsulated therein having a boiling point not higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin and have an average particle size from 1 to 100 ?m. The gaseous fluid is fed through a gas-introducing tube having a dispersion nozzle on its outlet that is fixed inside a conduit having a hot gas flow flowing therethrough. A jet of the gaseous fluid is emitted through the dispersion nozzle. Further, the gaseous fluid is collided on a collision plate fixed under the dispersion nozzle so as to disperse the heat-expandable microspheres in the hot gas flow. The dispersed heat-expandable microspheres are heated in the hot gas flow at a temperature not lower than their expansion initiating temperature and thus expanded.

Abstract: The present invention provides heat-expanded microspheres having high packing efficiency, and a production method thereof. The heat-expanded microspheres are produced by expanding heat-expandable microspheres, which comprise shell of thermoplastic resin and a blowing agent encapsulated therein having a boiling point not higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin and have an average particle size from 1 to 100 micrometer, at a temperature not lower than their expansion initiating temperature, and the heat-expanded microspheres result in a void fraction not higher than 0.70.

Abstract: Heat-expandable microspheres include a shell of thermoplastic resin and a blowing agent encapsulated therein having a boiling point not higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin, have a maximum expanding ratio not lower than 50 times, and are thermally expanded into hollow particulates having a repeated-compression durability not lower than 75 percent. The method of producing the heat-expandable microspheres includes the steps of dispersing an oily mixture containing a polymerizable component and the blowing agent in an aqueous dispersing medium containing a specific water-soluble compound and polymerizing the polymerizable component contained in the oily mixture.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing thermo-expansive microspheres comprising a thermoplastic resinous shell and a blowing agent being encapsulated in the shell, the blowing agent which is a fluorine-containing C2-10 compound having ether linkage, being free of chlorine and bromine atoms and gasifying at a temperature not higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin. The thermo-expansive microspheres have preferably an average particle size ranging from 1 to 100 ?m and a CV, or coefficient of variation, of particle size distribution being 30% or less, and a retaining ratio of blowing agent encapsulated being 90% or more.

Abstract: The present invention provides thermo-expansive microspheres comprising thermoplastic resinous shell and a blowing agent being encapsulated in the shell, the blowing agent which is a fluorine-containing C2-10 compound having ether linkage, being free of chlorine and bromine atoms and gasifying at a temperature not higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin; and also provides the production and application processes thereof. The thermo-expansive microspheres have preferably an average particle size ranging from 1 to 100 ?m and a CV, or coefficient of variation, of particle size distribution being 30% or less, and a retaining ratio of blowing agent encapsulated being 90% or more. The thermo-expansive microspheres have low environmental loading and superior flame-retardant or flame-resistant performance, and have particle sizes distributing in narrow ranges.

Abstract: A production process for heat-expanded microspheres comprising the step of providing a gaseous fluid containing heat-expandable microspheres, which comprise shell of thermoplastic resin and a blowing agent encapsulated therein having a boiling point not higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin and have an average particle size from 1 to 100 ?m, feeding the gaseous fluid through a gas-introducing tube having a dispersion nozzle on its outlet and being fixed inside a hot gas flow, and emitting a jet of the gaseous fluid through the dispersion nozzle; a step wherein the gaseous fluid is collided on a collision plate fixed under the dispersion nozzle so as to disperse the heat-expandable microspheres in the hot gas flow; and a step wherein the dispersed heat-expandable microspheres are heated in the hot gas flow at a temperature not lower than their expansion initiating temperature and thus expanded.

Abstract: Thermo-expansive microcapsules comprising a shell of a polymer produced by polymerizing a mixture of monomers, which comprises (I) a nitrile monomer, (II) a monomer having an unsaturated double bond and carboxyl groups in a molecule, (III) a monomer having two or more of polymerizable double bonds in a molecule, and optionally, (IV) a monomer different from and copolymerizable with the monomers (I), (II) and (III) and a blowing agent encapsulated in the shell. The volume retention of the expanded microcapsules of the thermo-expansive microcapsules is 50% or more after loaded with 15 MPa.

Abstract: The present invention provides thermo-expansive microspheres comprising thermoplastic resinous shell and a blowing agent being encapsulated in the shell, the blowing agent which is a fluorine-containing C2-10 compound having ether linkage, being free of chlorine and bromine atoms and gasifying at a temperature not higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin; and also provides the production and application processes thereof. The thermo-expansive microspheres have preferably an average particle size ranging from 1 to 100 ?m and a CV, or coefficient of variation, of particle size distribution being 30% or less, and a retaining ratio of blowing agent encapsulated being 90% or more. The thermo-expansive microspheres have low environmental loading and superior flame-retardant or flame-resistant performance, and have particle sizes distributing in narrow ranges.

Abstract: Thermo-expansive microcapsules comprising a shell of a polymer produced by polymerizing a mixture of monomers, which comprises (I) a nitrile monomer, (II) a monomer having an unsaturated double bond and carboxyl groups in a molecule, (III) a monomer having two or more of polymerizable double bonds in a molecule, and optionally, (IV) a monomer different from and copolymerizable with the monomers (I), (II) and (III) and a blowing agent encapsulated in the shell. The volume retention of the expanded microcapsules of the thermo-expansive microcapsules is 50% or more after loaded with 15 MPa.

Abstract: Synthetic organic particles each constituted of a core made from an organic polymer and a surface layer formed from a methacrylate resin on the surface of the core. In one of the particles, the core is made from a copolymer comprising 80 to 99 weight percent of a lower alkyl acrylate and 1 to 20 weight percent of a polyfunctional vinyl monomer to exhibit rubberlike elasticity, while in another of the particles, the core is made from a copolymer of a reactive benzotriazol compound and a (meth)acrylic monomer to exhibit an ultraviolet absorbing activity. These synthetic organic particles can be suitably added to cosmetics to impart a feeling of creamy softness and an ultraviolet screening power to them.

Abstract: A heat-expandable microcapsule comprising a polymer shell formed by polymerizing (I) acrylonitrile, a main monomer component, (II) a monomer having carboxyl and (III) a monomer having groups reactive with the carboxyl of the monomer (II) and of a liquid having a boiling point lower than the softening point of the polymer and being encapsulated in the polymer shell. The heat-expandable microcapsules expand within high temperature range, 240° C. or above, and have heat-resistance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing an ester comprising the step of reacting a carboxylic acid and an alcohol in the presence of an esterifying catalyst comprising at least one compound having the formula:O.dbd.M(RCOO).sub.2 wherein M represents Sn or Zn and R represents a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 1-21 carbon atoms with or without side chains. According to the present process, substantially equal equivalents of the alcohol and the acid can be reacted completely. In addition, the present invention further provides a purification process to eliminate the catalyst from a homogeneous reaction system completely.