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Expancel® Microspheres: A Superior Blowing Agent for Stable, Controlled Foaming in Thermoplastic Processing

Expancel^®microspheres feature a uniform, closed-cell structure that ensures a stable and controlled foaming process in thermoplastic applications. They serve as a phenomenal blowing agent, either on their own or in combination with chemical blowing agents, delivering consistent performance across a wide range of materials.

Expancel® microspheres are suitable for process temperatures up to 235°C (455°F) and are commonly used in PVC, TPR, TPU, and rubber. These microspheres offer significant advantages in thermoplastic processing, helping manufacturers produce lighter, higher-quality products.

Enhanced expansion capacity thanks to an easy-flowing matrix, enabling low density even at low addition levels.
Extremely low density and weight, expanding up to 60 times in volume compared to other materials.
Delivers an aesthetically appealing, matt rubber finish for improved surface quality.

Expancel® microspheres expand up to 60 times original volume when heat is added, without chemical reactions, residue or VOC emissions.

Expancel^®DU and Expancel^® DE are highly suited to help produce lightweight plastic automotive interiors and are used to reduce weight and dampen sound.

Expancel^® DU products are used in the production of automotive weather strips for low weight and to improve sealing.

Expancel^® DU and Expancel^® MB allow you to produce lighweight shoe soles and at the same time achieve a very important factor during the foaming process – control.

Thermoplastic processing methods with Expancel^®Microspheres

No expensive equipment or licensing is necessary. Just add Expancel^®microspheres.

Injection molding - add Expancel^®microsphere to the mix and easily achieve density reduction levels between 10-30% in injection molding.
Extrusion - usable in almost every type of extrusion line, our microspheres help you reach perfect expansion in profiles, hoses, sheets, cables, and more.
Thermoforming - expanded microspheres withstand the thermoforming stage to give you a brilliantly foamed product. Both thin and thick sheets foamed with Expancel^®microsphere leads to feasible thermoforming of e.g. PS and PP.
Blow molding - make foamed parts with blow molding processes but note that adjustments might be necessary on blow pressure to reach low densities.
Calendering - produce beautifully foamed sheets of e.g. PVC in calendaring processes.

Featured products

Expancel microspheres

Expancel 980 DU 100

Dry powder of unexpanded thermoplastic microspheres used as a blowing agent in thermoplastic applications. It expands at a temperature range of 169-229°C and the particle size is around 100 µm in its expanded form.

Expancel microspheres

Expancel 093 DU 120

Dry powder of unexpanded thermoplastic microspheres used as a blowing agent in thermoplastics, artificial leather and similar applications. It expands at a temperature range of 119-201°C and the particle size is around 120 µm in its expanded form.

Expancel microspheres

Expancel 980 MB 100

Masterbatch of dry, unexpanded thermoplastic microspheres mixed with a carrier and used as a blowing agent in thermoplastics and similar applications. It has a particle size of around 100 µm in its expanded form.

Expancel microspheres

Expancel 951 MB 120

Masterbatch of dry, unexpanded thermoplastic microspheres mixed with a carrier and used as a blowing agent in thermoplastics and similar applications. It has a particle size of around 120 µm in its expanded form.

Show all Expancel products for polymer processing