Claims
- 1. A thermo-expandable plastic microsphere comprising a polymeric wall surrounding one or more pockets of blowing agent within the microsphere, the polymeric wall comprising reactive functionalities.
- 2. A thermo-expandable microsphere according to claim 1 wherein the polymeric wall comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of anhydride-containing polymers and copolymers, hydroxyl-containing polymers and copolymers, amine-containing polymers and copolymers, naturally occurring polymers, and a mixture of a polymer and one or more reactive oligomers or crosslinkable moieties capable of forming a crosslinked, interpenetrating, or semi-interpenetrating polymeric network within the polymeric wall.
- 3. A thermo-expandable microsphere according to claim 1 wherein the polymeric wall comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polystyrene-co-maleic anhydride, polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate, and poly(4-vinyl pyrridine).
- 4. A thermo-expandable microsphere according to claim 2 wherein the naturally occurring polymer is selected from the group consisting of polysaccharides, lipids, and proteins.
- 5. A thermo-expandable microsphere according to claim 2 wherein the naturally occurring polymer is zein.
- 6. A thermo-expandable microsphere according to claim 1 wherein said polymeric wall comprises a polymer having reactive sites within the polymer chain.
- 7. A thermo-expandable microsphere according to claim 1 wherein said polymeric wall further comprises additives selected from the group consisting of crosslinking agents and reactive functional groups incorporated into said wall.
- 8. A thermo-expandable microsphere according to claim 1 wherein said reactive functionalities are polymerizable by free-radical or addition-type polymerization mechanisms.
- 9. A thermo-expandable microsphere according to claim 1, and said polymeric wall comprising a polymer that is not directly polymerizable by free-radical emulsion or suspension polymerization techniques, and said microsphere being free of residues used to dry microspheres from an aqueous solution.
- 10. A thermo-expandable plastic microsphere comprising a polymeric wall surrounding one or more pockets of blowing agent within the microsphere, the polymeric wall comprising a polymer that is not directly polymerizable by free-radical emulsion or suspension polymerization techniques.
- 11. A thermo-expandable microsphere according to claim 10 wherein the polymeric wall comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polymer blends, non-random copolymers, block copolymers, branched, comb-shaped, or star-shaped polymers, engineering thermoplastics, naturally occurring polymers, polymers produced by step-growth-type polymerization mechanisms, and a mixture of a polymer and one or more reactive oligomers or crosslinkable moieties capable of forming a crosslinked, interpenetrating, or semi-interpenetrating polymeric network within the polymeric wall.
- 12. A thermo-expandable microsphere according to claim 11 wherein the naturally occurring polymer is selected from the group consisting of polysaccharides, lipids, and proteins.
- 13. A thermo-expandable microsphere according to claim 11 wherein the naturally occurring polymer is zein.
- 14. A thermo-expandable microsphere according to claim 10, the polymeric wall comprising reactive functionalities.
- 15. A thermo-expandable microsphere according to claim 10, said microsphere being free of residues used to dry microspheres from an aqueous solution.
- 16. A thermo-expandable, plastic microsphere comprising a polymeric wall surrounding one or more pockets of blowing agent within the microsphere, said microsphere being free of residues used to dry microspheres from an aqueous solution.
- 17. A thermo-expandable microsphere according to claim 16 wherein the polymeric wall comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polymers, polymer blends, copolymers, block copolymers, branched, comb-shaped, or star-shaped polymers, engineering thermoplastics, naturally occurring polymers, polymers produced by step-growth-type polymerization mechanisms, polymers produced by addition-type polymerization mechanisms, thermosetting polymers, and a mixture of a polymer and one or more reactive oligomers or crosslinkable moieties capable of forming a crosslinked, interpenetrating, or semi-interpenetrating polymeric network within the polymeric wall.
- 18. A thermo-expandable microsphere according to claim 17 wherein the thermoplastic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polystyrene-maleic anhydride, polymethylmethacrylate, polyacrylonitrile, polymethacrylonitrile, polyvinylidene floride, polyvinylidene chloride, polysaccharides, polypeptides, and zein.
- 19. A thermo-expandable microsphere according to claim 16, the polymeric wall comprising reactive functionalities.
- 20. A thermo-expandable microsphere according to claim 19, wherein said polymeric wall comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of styrene-maleic anhydride and zein.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/US99/29358, filed on Dec. 10, 1999 and designating the United States of America, now in Chapter II, which International Application claims the benefit of Provisional application Serial No. 60/111,777, filed Dec. 10, 1998, and also claims benefit of Provisional application Serial No. 60/111,778, filed Dec. 10, 1998. The disclosures of all applications are incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60111777 |
Dec 1998 |
US |
|
60111778 |
Dec 1998 |
US |
Continuations (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09877992 |
Jun 2001 |
US |
Child |
10235418 |
Sep 2002 |
US |
Parent |
PCT/US99/29358 |
Dec 1999 |
US |
Child |
09877992 |
Jun 2001 |
US |