THERMAL EXPANSION MICROSPHERES, MANUFACTURING METHOD AND USE THEREOF

摘要

Thermal expansion microspheres are provided which are substantially spherical, have excellent expansion, and have good workability when mixed with a resin; also provided are a manufacturing method and use of said microspheres. These thermal expansion microspheres comprise: an outer shell made of a thermoplastic resin; and a foaming agent which is enclosed in the outer shell and is vaporized by heating. The thermoplastic resin essentially contains methacrylic acid ester monomers and carboxylic group-containing monomers, and is obtained by polymerizing a polymerizable component in which a nitrile-base monomer is 0-30 parts by weight for every total 100 parts by weight of the methacrylic acid ester monomers and carboxylic group-containing monomers, and the foaming agent essentially contains hydrocarbons having 8 or more carbon atoms.