AkzoNobel Expancel: Microspheres ready for food

Expancel now brings the beneficial properties of Expancel microspheres to a vast variety of products in the food industry and will inform visitors at K 2010 about a new grade suitable for direct food contact.

The company will be introducing Expancel FG – a new series of thermoplastic expandable microspheres that meets the European requirements of the direct food legislations EC 2002/72 and EC 1935/2004. The new FG series is suitable for applications like wine stoppers, cap-sealants and foamed wrapping foils, etc.

Expancel said, that it will continue to further develop the grade together with customers to meet their specific needs. The company continues to lead the way in microsphere product development by being the first to offer thermoplastic expandable microspheres approved for products that come in direct contact with food, says Johan Lindgren, Regulatory Affairs.

Expancel is part of the AkzoNobel Group and a worldwide developer and supplier of microsphere technology. The company is based in Sundsvall, Sweden.

Expancel uses unique microsphere technology. A blowing agent is covered in a gas-tight thermoplastic shell. Heating the microsphere causes an irreversible expansion and a significant density-reduction of the microsphere.