In today's booming manufacturing industry, the choice of foaming agent is often a key factor in determining product quality and performance. Microspheres are revolutionizing industries with their unique properties. However, selecting the best microsphere blowing agent from a wide range of products is not an easy task.
Expandable Microspheres Foaming Agent Structure
Microsphere foaming agents have a unique core-shell structure. The outer shell is typically made of a thermoplastic polymer, such as an acrylic resin polymer, which gives the microspheres their strength and stability, while the inner core contains low-boiling organic hydrocarbon gases, which are central to the foaming effect. Typically, microspheres are spherical plastic particles, 10 - 30 microns in diameter, with a polymer shell thickness of 2 - 15 microns, and are flexible enough to withstand considerable pressure.
China Expandable Microspheres Foaming Agent Expansion Principle
When microspheres are heated, the polymer shell softens and the gas inside begins to expand. At this point, the hydrocarbons inside the shell expand to 20 - 50 times their original volume in a short period of time. Miraculously, the shell of the foamed microspheres does not rupture and remains intact as a sealed sphere. Moreover, these microspheres are highly resilient, easily compressed and quickly return to their original volume once the pressure is removed.
Foaming Temperature Range
The foaming temperature range is the primary factor that must be considered when choosing microsphere foaming agents. Different manufacturing processes have specific temperature requirements. For example, some plastics are injection molded at higher temperatures, while some rubbers are vulcanized at relatively low temperatures. Microsphere blowing agent foaming temperature range is usually between 70 ℃ - 200 ℃, we need to be based on the specific processing temperature and process requirements, select the matching microsphere model to ensure that the foaming process is carried out smoothly.
Elasticity and compression resistance
The elasticity and compression resistance of the microsphere blowing agent directly affect the mechanical properties of the final product. A blowing agent with good elasticity can significantly improve the flexibility and durability of the foam. For example, in the production of shoe soles, a microcellular blowing agent with good elasticity can make the soles maintain good cushioning performance after a long time of use. When choosing, the compressive strength and resilience of the microsphere blowing agent can be evaluated by professional mechanical testing equipment.
Foaming performance
The expansion ratio of the blowing agent is the key index to measure its foaming performance. High-quality microsphere blowing agent can realize the independent foaming effect of 50 - 150 times of the original volume, and still maintain a complete closed body after foaming. At the same time, a uniform and stable pore structure is also crucial, which is related to the density, strength and other properties of the foam. For example, in the production of foam panels, a good pore structure allows the panels to have better thermal insulation properties.
Environmental performance
In today's increasingly stringent environmental requirements, the environmental performance of the microsphere blowing agent should not be ignored. Polymer microspheres non-toxic non-polluting properties, making it an ideal choice for high-end, high value-added products in the environmental protection of the blowing agent. Selection of microsphere blowing agent in line with relevant environmental regulations and standards, not only helps companies to fulfill their social responsibility, but also enhance the competitiveness of products in the market.
Product Diversity and Customization
The market offers a wide range of microsphere blowing agents with different types, grades and formulations to meet diversified needs. In addition, some suppliers provide customized services to adjust the foaming characteristics of microsphere blowing agents or optimize their compatibility with specific materials according to customers' special needs.
Applications for Microsphere Foaming
Microsphere foaming are used in a wide range of industries. In the field of footwear manufacturing, it is commonly used in the production of injection molded foam soles such as PVC and TPR, giving the soles lightweight, comfortable and durable characteristics.
In home décor, foamed wallpaper is one of its key applications. It is made of 100g/m² paper coated with 300 - 400g/m² of blowing agent mixed with expandable microspheres, and then foamed after printing. Among them, high-foam wallpaper surface elastic and bumpy, both decorative and sound-absorbing, commonly used in opera houses, conference rooms, ceiling decoration; low-foam printing wallpaper by printing patterns on the surface, and the use of defoamer-containing ink to form different colors of bumpy patterns, three-dimensional and highly decorative.
When selecting a microsphere blowing agent supplier, product quality, reliability, technical support and customer service are all important dimensions to consider. Zhejiang Shuntai Rubber & Plastic Technology Co., Ltd. specializes in the production and sales of blowing agents since its establishment in 2008. The plant covers an area of 12,098 square meters and has several specialized areas such as an ultra-fine grinding plant and a mixing plant.
ShunTai's products have many advantages. It has a wide range of products, including AC, OBSH, thermally expandable microspheres and other blowing agents; special design for different materials and processing techniques, with high specificity; special treatment and surface modification to ensure good dispersion and mobility in polymers; provision of special blowing agents with different temperature specifications to match the melting and cross-linking temperatures of various materials; strict quality control to ensure the stability of product performance; and production process to ensure the stability of the products. Strict quality control ensures the stable performance of the products; and we do not use highly toxic (meth)acrylonitrile in the production process, so our products are non-toxic and environmentally friendly. Our blowing agent products are exported to more than 200 countries and regions around the world, providing customers with high quality products and services.
Conclusion
Choosing the right
microsphere blowing agent requires a combination of factors such as foaming temperature range, elasticity, foaming performance, environmental friendliness and product diversity. At the same time, choosing a reliable supplier is also crucial. As a professional supplier of chemical blowing agent, we are committed to providing blowing agent products to customers from a wide range of industry users, if you have further needs, please feel free to contact Shun Tai Technology.
