Modification of Hollow Expanded Microspheres with Superior Thermal Insulation Properties and Their Applications

Abstract

Thermally expandable microspheres (TEMs) are hollow polymeric particles in which a blowing gas has been encapsulated. This property makes them excellent for thermal insulation applications, such as lightweight fillers. This study has developed a viable technology for further improving thermal insulation properties in the field that needs excellent thermal insulation of textile fabrics. The ATO/TEMs composites were designed and prepared to reduce sunlight radiation by the charge gravity method. The test results showed that the ATO‐coated TEMs effectively block thermal radiation from sunlight. The temperature difference between ATO/TEMs treated cotton and the uncoated cotton fabric was 9 °C, and the thermal conductivity coatings were 0.0432 W/m⋅K. The UPF value of ATO/TEMs (ILs) coated cotton fabric is 440, significantly higher than pure cotton. This approach can provide insight into the design of high‐performance solar insulation composite structures.

Core‐Shell Micro‐ and Nano‐Structures for The Modification of Light‐Surface Interactions

“…Zhao et al explored the use of a hollow thermally expandable microsphere (hTEM) as the core material for a coreshell cool pigment. [55] The hTEM was made of polyacrylonitrile (PAN), a thermoplastic polymer, and contained an inert hydro-carbon as the gas core. The shell material was antimony tin oxide (ATO), which had been previously reported to be effective in blocking out UV and NIR radiation.…”

Thermally expandable microspheres based on fully or partially bio‐based polymers

“…2 In 1970, Dow Chemical Co. 3 published the first patent on TEMs which has since been followed by an increasing number of patents and publications. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] There are studies where polymerization parameters including the effect of crosslinking, 1,[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] structure, 20 surface modification, [21][22][23][24][25] and applications 2,[26][27][28][29] have been investigated. Traditionally, TEMs are prepared from fossil-based monomers such as acrylonitrile (AN), methacrylonitrile (MAN), various (meth)acrylates, maleimides, acrylamides, vinylidene chloride, and styrene.…”