Abstract: A resin composition containing heat-expandable microspheres including a thermoplastic resin shell and a thermally vaporizable blowing agent encapsulated therein and at least one base resin selected from rubbers, olefin resins and thermoplastic elastomers. The thermoplastic resin is a polymer of a polymerizable component containing N-substituted maleimide and a nitrile monomer containing methacrylonitrile. Also disclosed are molded articles manufactured by molding the resin composition.

Abstract: Heat-expandable microspheres including a thermoplastic resin shell and a thermally-vaporizable blowing agent encapsulated therein. The thermoplastic resin is a polymer of a polymerizable component containing a cross-linkable monomer (A) which has at least two (meth)acryloyl groups per molecule and a reactive carbon-carbon double bond in addition to the (meth)acryloyl groups and has a molecular weight of at least 500. Also disclosed are hollow resin particles manufactured by expanding the heat-expandable microspheres; fine-particle-coated hollow resin particles including the hollow resin particles; a composition including a base component and the heat-expandable microspheres, or hollow resin particles, or fine-particle coated hollow resin particles; and a formed article manufactured by forming the composition.

Abstract: Hollow resin particles for thermosensitive recording media containing a thermoplastic resin shell and a hollow part surrounded by the shell. The hollow resin particles contain a thermally-vaporizable hydrocarbon in an encapsulation ratio of at least 0.2 wt %. The hollow resin particles preferably have a mean volume particle size ranging from 0.1 to 10 ?m.

Abstract: Heat-expandable microspheres including a thermoplastic resin shell and a thermally-vaporizable blowing agent encapsulated therein. The thermoplastic resin is a polymer of a polymerizable component containing a cross-linkable monomer (A) which has at least two (meth)acryloyl groups per molecule and a reactive carbon-carbon double bond in addition to the (meth)acryloyl groups and has a molecular weight of at least 500. Also disclosed are hollow resin particles manufactured by expanding the heat-expandable microspheres; fine-particle-coated hollow resin particles including the hollow resin particles; a composition including a base component and the heat-expandable microspheres, or hollow resin particles, or fine-particle coated hollow resin particles; and a formed article manufactured by forming the composition.

Abstract: Heat-expandable microspheres containing a thermoplastic resin shell and a thermally-vaporizable blowing agent encapsulated therein. The thermoplastic resin is a polymer of a polymerizable component containing acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile and acrylate ester and which satisfies specific conditions 1 and 2, where Condition 1: the amount of the acrylonitrile (A)<the amount of the methacrylonitrile (B), and Condition 2: the total amount of the acrylonitrile (A), the methacrylonitrile (B) and the acrylate ester (C) in the polymerizable component ranges from 61 to 100 wt %. Also disclosed are hollow resin particles manufactured by expanding the heat-expandable microspheres, a composition containing a base component and at least one selected from the heat-expandable microspheres and the hollow resin particles, and a formed article manufactured by forming or molding the composition.

Abstract: A resin composition containing heat-expandable microspheres including a thermoplastic resin shell and a thermally vaporizable blowing agent encapsulated therein and at least one base resin selected from rubbers, olefin resins and thermoplastic elastomers. The thermoplastic resin is a polymer of a polymerizable component containing N-substituted maleimide and a nitrile monomer containing methacrylonitrile. Also disclosed are molded articles manufactured by molding the resin composition.

Abstract: Hollow resin particles, a production process for producing the same and application thereof. The hollow resin particles include a thermoplastic resin shell and a hollow part surrounded by the shell. The thermoplastic resin is a polymer produced from a polymerizable component containing 0.6 to 3.0 wt % of a crosslinkable monomer having at least two polymerizable carbon-carbon double bonds per molecule and 97 to 99.4 wt % of an uncrosslinkable monomer having one polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond per molecule. A blowing agent is encapsulated in the hollow resin particles. The blowing agent contains 50 to 100 wt % of an organic compound having a vapor pressure higher than 100 kPa at 25° C. Further, the encapsulation ratio of the blowing agent ranges from 3 to 13 wt % of the hollow resin particles.

Abstract: A rubber composition for vulcanization molding which can be manufactured into a rubber product with good dimensional stability, good appearance and sufficiently light weight, a process for manufacturing the same, and applications thereof. A rubber composition for vulcanization molding containing hollow particles and a base rubber, wherein the hollow particles are composed of a thermoplastic resin shell and a thermally vaporizable blowing agent encapsulated therein and have a specified further expansion ratio, and the base rubber has a Mooney viscosity ML (1+4) ranging from 5 to 90 at 100° C. Also disclosed is a process for manufacturing the rubber composition, hollow particles used for manufacturing the rubber composition, a masterbatch including the hollow particles and a rubber product manufactured from the rubber composition.

Abstract: A process for producing heat-expandable microspheres which enables constant and high-yield production of heat-expandable microspheres having a mean particle size ranging from 0.01 to 10 ?m without deteriorating their expansion performance, and the application thereof. The process produces heat-expandable microspheres containing a thermoplastic resin shell and the blowing agent encapsulated therein. The process includes a step of dispersing a polymerizable component and the blowing agent in an aqueous dispersion medium containing a polyester amide having an acid value (mgKOH/g) ranging from 95 to 140 and a step of polymerizing the polymerizable component.

Abstract: Hollow resin particles, a production process for producing the same and application thereof. The hollow resin particles include a thermoplastic resin shell and a hollow part surrounded by the shell. The thermoplastic resin is a polymer produced from a polymerizable component containing 0.6 to 3.0 wt % of a crosslinkable monomer having at least two polymerizable carbon-carbon double bonds per molecule and 97 to 99.4 wt % of an uncrosslinkable monomer having one polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond per molecule. A blowing agent is encapsulated in the hollow resin particles. The blowing agent contains 50 to 100 wt % of an organic compound having a vapor pressure higher than 100 kPa at 25° C. Further, the encapsulation ratio of the blowing agent ranges from 3 to 13 wt % of the hollow resin particles.

Abstract: A process for producing heat-expandable microspheres including a thermoplastic resin shell and a blowing agent encapsulated therein. The process includes the steps of dispersing a polymerizable component and the blowing agent in an aqueous dispersion medium having a pH of 7 or less and containing a fine-particle metal compound having a mean particle size ranging from 1.0 to 10 nm, and polymerizing the polymerizable component. The amount of the fine-particle metal compound ranges from 0.15 to 20 parts by weight to 100 parts by weight of the total amount of the polymerizable component and the blowing agent. Also disclosed are heat-expandable microspheres produced by dispersing a polymerizable component and a blowing agent in an aqueous dispersion medium containing colloidal silica and polymerizing the polymerizable component.

Abstract: A rubber composition for vulcanization molding which can be manufactured into a rubber product with good dimensional stability, good appearance and sufficiently light weight, a process for manufacturing the same, and applications thereof. A rubber composition for vulcanization molding containing hollow particles and a base rubber, wherein the hollow particles are composed of a thermoplastic resin shell and a thermally vaporizable blowing agent encapsulated therein and have a specified further expansion ratio, and the base rubber has a Mooney viscosity ML (1+4) ranging from 5 to 90 at 100° C. Also disclosed is a process for manufacturing the rubber composition, hollow particles used for manufacturing the rubber composition, a masterbatch including the hollow particles and a rubber product manufactured from the rubber composition.

Abstract: Heat-expandable microspheres composed of a thermoplastic resin shell and a thermally-vaporizable blowing agent encapsulated therein, and having an average particle size ranging from 1 to 100 ?m. The amount of DMF-insoluble matter (G1) and the amount of DMF-MEK-insoluble matter (G2) constituting the heat-expandable microspheres satisfy 1.05<G2/G1. The expansion of the heat-expandable microspheres satisfy Hmax/Tmax?13 (?m/° C.) where Hmax and Tmax are as defined herein. Also disclosed in a process for producing the heat-expandable microspheres which includes preparing an aqueous suspension comprising oily globules dispersed in an aqueous dispersion medium containing a hydrophilic cross-linking agent, wherein the oily globules are made of an oily mixture comprising the blowing agent and a monomer component; and polymerizing the monomer component.

Abstract: Heat-expandable microspheres having an almost spherical shape and high expansion performance and exhibiting good workability when mixed with a resin, a process for producing the heat-expandable microspheres, and applications thereof. The heat-expandable microspheres include a thermoplastic resin shell and a blowing agent encapsulated therein and vaporizable by heating. The thermoplastic resin is produced by polymerizing a polymerizable component containing a methacrylate monomer and a carboxyl-containing monomer, and optionally containing a nitrile monomer in an amount ranging from 0 to 30 parts by weight to 100 parts by weight of the total amount of the methacrylate monomer and the carboxyl-containing monomer. The blowing agent contains a hydrocarbon having at least 8 carbon atoms per molecule.

Abstract: A process for producing heat-expandable microspheres which enables constant and high-yield production of heat-expandable microspheres having a mean particle size ranging from 0.01 to 10 ?m without deteriorating their expansion performance, and the application thereof. The process produces heat-expandable microspheres containing a thermoplastic resin shell and the blowing agent encapsulated therein. The process includes a step of dispersing a polymerizable component and the blowing agent in an aqueous dispersion medium containing a polyester amide having an acid value (mgKOH/g) ranging from 95 to 140 and a step of polymerizing the polymerizable component.

Abstract: Heat-expandable microspheres having an almost spherical shape and high expansion performance and exhibiting good workability when mixed with a resin, a process for producing the heat-expandable microspheres, and applications thereof. The heat-expandable microspheres include a thermoplastic resin shell and a blowing agent encapsulated therein and vaporizable by heating. The thermoplastic resin is produced by polymerizing a polymerizable component containing a methacrylate monomer and a carboxyl-containing monomer, and optionally containing a nitrile monomer in an amount ranging from 0 to 30 parts by weight to 100 parts by weight of the total amount of the methacrylate monomer and the carboxyl-containing monomer. The blowing agent contains a hydrocarbon having at least 8 carbon atoms per molecule.

Abstract: A masterbatch containing an organic base component and heat-expandable microspheres including a thermoplastic resin shell and a thermally vaporizable blowing agent encapsulated therein. The organic base component has a melting point not higher than the expansion-initiation temperature of the heat-expandable microspheres and a melt flow rate (MFR, g/10 mm) higher than 50 and not higher than 2200. A ratio of the heat-expandable microspheres ranges from 30 to 80 wt % of the total weight of the heat-expandable microspheres and the organic base component. Also disclosed is a molding composition, a foamed molded article manufactured by molding the molding composition and a weathers tripping.

Abstract: A process for producing heat-expandable microspheres including a thermoplastic resin shell and a blowing agent encapsulated therein. The process includes the steps of dispersing a polymerizable component and the blowing agent in an aqueous dispersion medium having a pH of 7 or less and containing a fine-particle metal compound having a mean particle size ranging from 1.0 to 10 nm, and polymerizing the polymerizable component. The amount of the fine-particle metal compound ranges from 0.15 to 20 parts by weight to 100 parts by weight of the total amount of the polymerizable component and the blowing agent. Also disclosed are heat-expandable microspheres produced by dispersing a polymerizable component and a blowing agent in an aqueous dispersion medium containing colloidal silica and polymerizing the polymerizable component.

Abstract: Heat-expandable microspheres composed of a thermoplastic resin shell and a thermally-vaporizable blowing agent encapsulated therein, and having an average particle size ranging from 1 to 100 ?m. The amount of DMF-insoluble matter (G1) and the amount of DMF-MEK-insoluble matter (G2) constituting the heat-expandable microspheres satisfy 1.05<G2/G1. The expansion of the heat-expandable microspheres satisfy Hmax/Tmax?13 (?m/° C.) where Hmax and Tmax are as defined herein. Also disclosed in a process for producing the heat-expandable microspheres which includes preparing an aqueous suspension comprising oily globules dispersed in an aqueous dispersion medium containing a hydrophilic cross-linking agent, wherein the oily globules are made of an oily mixture comprising the blowing agent and a monomer component; and polymerizing the monomer component.

Abstract: Provided is a process for efficiently producing heat-expandable microspheres having high solvent resistance. The process produces the heat-expandable microspheres composed of a shell of a thermoplastic resin and a blowing agent encapsulated therein and vaporizable by heating, and includes the steps of preparing an aqueous suspension by dispersing an oily mixture containing a polymerizable component, the blowing agent, and a polymerization initiator containing, as an essential component, a peroxide A having a theoretical active oxygen content of at least 7.8%, and polymerizing the polymerizable component in the oily mixture.