Gills Group
Gills Group - Crossing the Latitudes & Longitudes of the Business World!
Akzo Nobel's EXPANCEL® microspheres are small spherical plastic particles. The microspheres consist of a polymer shell encapsulating a gas. When the gas inside the shell is heated, it increases its pressure and the thermoplastic shell softens, resulting in a dramatic increase in the volume of the microspheres. When fully expanded, the volume of the microspheres increases more than 40 times.
The product range includes both unexpanded and expanded microspheres. Unexpanded microspheres are used as blowing agents in many areas such as printing inks, paper, textiles, polyurethanes, PVC-plastics and more. The expanded microspheres are used as lightweight fillers in various applications.

GILLS INT'L PVT LTD is a Sole Agent for Akzo Nobel's Expancel® Microspheres Products in Pakistan.
Unexpanded Microspheres
 Added Heat to Microspheres Unexpanded Microspheres
Unexpanded Microspheres Added Heat   Expanded Microspheres

Microsphere Types


There are two main types of EXPANCEL® microspheres:

Unexpanded microspheres:

  • EXPANCEL WU Microspheres - wet unexpanded microspheres
  • EXPANCEL DU Microspheres - dry unexpanded microspheres
  • EXPANCEL SL Microspheres - aqueous dispersion of unexpanded microspheres
  • EXPANCEL MB Microspheres - master batch of unexpanded microspheres in a matrix

    Expanded microspheres:

  • EXPANCEL WE Microspheres - wet expanded microspheres
  • EXPANCEL DE Microspheres - dry expanded microspheres
    		•

    Microspheres Applications

    Akzo Nobel's EXPANCEL® microspheres can be used in contact with many chemicals, including solvents, without negative effects on expansion or other properties.

    For some of the user areas there are brochures available as downloads. To view the brochures you need Adobe Reader.


    User area Download Type Improvement
    Anti-slip coatings WU, DU Increase friction
    Braille paper WU Produces three-dimensional patterns
    Carpet underlays (220 kb) WU Increase friction
    Printing ink WU, DU Produces three-dimensional prints
    Car underbody coatings (939 kb) DE, DU Reduced weight
    Industrial non-woven textiles (220 kb) DU Improve bulk and thickness
    Boxboard SL Improve bulk and stiffness
    Fine paper SL Improve bulk and stiffness
    Auto body filler and marine and hobby putties (255 kb) DE Reduce weight, improve sandability, improve applicability
    Cable fillings DE Improve electrical insulation
    Cultured marble (255 kb) DE Reduce weight, improve thermal shock resistance
    Civil explosives DE Increase sensitivity
    Modelmaking materials (255 kb) DE Improve processing
    Sealants (acrylics, PUR, polysulphides, silicones) DE Reduce density, with retained elastomeric properties
    Synthetic wood (255 kb) DE Reduce weight, lower tooling cost
    Paints and crack fillers WE Reduce weight, improve applicability
    © copyright 2006 Gills Group.