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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Thermally expandable particles (TEPs) were developed by Dow Chemical Co in the early 1970´s [1] and
were further developed by others [2, 3]. They are particles made up of a thermoplastic shell filled with liquid
hydrocarbon. On heating them, two transformations will occur. One is the softening of shell material and the
other is the gasification of the hydrocarbon liquid inside it. As a consequence, the shell will expand as the gas
inside it will push the softened shell from inside out causing it to grow in size [4]. When fully expanded, the
growth in volume of the particle can be from 50 to 100 times [3]. Owing to this unique behaviour, TEPs are
used by the industry in a wide variety of applications mainly for weight reduction and appearance
improvement for thermoplastics, inks, and coatings. In adhesive bonding, TEPs have been used for recycling
purposes. Moreover, TEPs might be used to modify structural adhesives for other new purposes, such as: to
increase the joint strength by creating an adhesive functionally modified along the overlap of the joint by
gradual heating and/or to heal the adhesive in case of damage.
Description
Keywords
Thermally expandable particles TEPs
Citation
Publisher
Cambridge University Press