METHOD OF EXPANDING A GEL MATERIAL.

摘要

A gel material is expanded by first subjecting mixture of a gel precursor material (10) and heat-expandable microspheres (12) to a curing regimen which cures the precursor material into a gel material (10') without expanding the microspheres and then heating to expand the gel material containing the microspheres. In this manner, an intermediate product in the form of a gel which is more handleable than the typically syrupy precursor material is produced. This intermediate product can be manipulated and placed at the intended application location and then expanded.