Work with us to find out.

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2 There was a time many years ago, a seven year long period, characterized by challenging research. The goal was to find a laminate to make a paper thicker without increasing the weight a collaborative project between two large industrial companies began. In 1980 the research team discovered microspheres that can expand 60 to 80 times their own size and still maintain their weight. Expancel sees the light. The develop ment takes off. Since then we have continuously invented, produced and intro duced new products and new usage areas for our micros pheres. It is all about changing density, surface modi fi cation, compressibility and insulation. The challenge is to make our customers businesses better. We are today part of AkzoNobel and Expancel is one of the market leading companies when it comes to microspheres. Our long experience in the business is an advantage. Research, develop ment, sales and production are still concentrated at Stockvik in Sundsvall, Sweden. And we are confident that we will continue to make a difference for our customers. There are still thousands of usage- and development areas waiting to be discovered. Our dedication and commitment to the microspheres, your business and making a difference is here to stay. Work with us to find out.

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4 Our passion is to find new applications for our patented products that leads to better business for you. The technical know-how we provide, along with microspheres in different forms, helps you produce costeffective products. We take great pride in focusing on your future needs by delivering Tomorrow s Answers Today. What s in it for you? Our mission is success in your product development. With Expancel microspheres we wish to enhance the unique properties you are looking for. Our aim is to have grades for a wide range of applications and to be first in all major developments of the microspheres. With our international organization we have the capability to support you globally. Our role is to offer you efficient solutions with the help of our expert know - ledge. We are specialists in the microsphere chemistry and the interaction between the microspheres and a vast number of systems. Our commitment is overall customer satisfaction and to offer you safe and easy handling of Expancel microspheres.

5 Global and local Know-how runs in the family. Expancel is a unit within AkzoNobel. Our head office is in Sundsvall, about 400 km north of the Swedish capital Stockholm. Here you find the head quarters, and the departments of R&D, production, marketing and technical service. From our head office we operate worldwide with sales offices in the major areas of the world. Thanks to the concentration of all our important functions in one place and a flat and flexible organization, Expancel is able to move fast to respond to new customer demands. Expancel microspheres are marketed all over the world. Our sales offices are located in Germany, Netherlands, Russia, Poland, Italy, China, US and Brazil. In other areas we are represented through a network of agents and distributors.

6 We don t know the full potential of our microspheres. What we do know is that they work miracles for our customers. In thousands of ways. With elasticity, insulation, surface modifications and density. Your potential starts with a blank page. Let s paint the picture together.

7 It s chemistry add heat Expancel microspheres are small spherical plastic particles. You might find it hard to believe that something this small can improve your product and profitability. The microspheres consist of a polymer shell encapsulating a gas. When heated the internal pressure from the gas increases and the thermo - plastic shell softens, resulting in a dramatic increase of the volume of the microspheres. Expancel microspheres are supplied in unexpanded as well as pre-expanded form. The pre-expanded microspheres are ideal for use as lightweight fillers in many application areas.

8 Lightweight or widespread? Low density by Expancel Decrease weight, add bulk and whatnot with Expancel microspheres. Whatnot? That s where you come in. Expancel microspheres comes with the potential to change a vast variety of properties. The small things that make big things happen in your business. Combination The combination of extremely low density and high resiliency of the microspheres provides valuable characteristics in the articles produced. In addition, the microspheres have cost reducing effects.

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10 Keep the heat in or out? Insulation by Expancel Expancel microspheres can isolate one from another. Another what? Let s work it out together. Separation The microsphere is a closed expandable cell. Closed cells maintain the gas and do not absorb water. By adding Expancel micro - spheres to your mix you can seperate one thing from another that has to be isolated.

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12 Resistance and cooperation? Compressibility by Expancel To buckle under pressure is alright as long as you bounce back, right? Squeeze the potential out of your product together with Expancel microspheres. Resiliency The high resiliency of the microspheres means they can withstand several cycles of loading/unloading without breaking. This makes them highly suitable for use in shock absorbent materials and in applications where the microspheres are pumped.

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14 Rugged as rock or smooth as silk? Surface modification by Expancel Change the structure of your surface with Expancel microspheres. What surface? You tell us. Behaviour Expancel microspheres are available in a variety of grades with expansion temperatures in the range of C. The different thermomechanical behaviour of the various grades makes it possible to select the optimal grade for each process and application.

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16 Let s find out together what the possibilites are The innovation never stops but one thing is for sure, Expancel micro - spheres create change. And there is always room for new applications. The very first industrial application for Expancel microspheres was for printing ink back in Since then dozens of other uses have been found in a variety of fields. It is all about targeting which property you want to improve and which Expancel grade will accomplish that. Regardless if your product involves Thermoplastics / thermosets / underbody coatings / nonwoven light weight foam / crack fillers / spackling compounds / sealants concrete / paint / shoe soles / printing inks / genuine leather or other adding Expancel microspheres to the mix will change and benefit your product.

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18 Expancel microspheres are available as unexpanded or expanded. We deliver them in 6 different forms, all of them highly sophisticated and developed for different purposes. A partner with experience When you come to us you gain not only a supplier of micro - spheres but also a partner in the development of your product. We put our more than 30 years of experience to use in the context of your production, making the most of our collective know-how. Although Expancel microspheres are highly sophisticated products you will find them easy to use in numerous applications. The qualified staff in our marketing and technical department have considerable experience in a wide variety of applications. They are right at hand to assist you in increasing your competitive edge by making full use of the microspheres. The beneficial properties of Expancel microspheres is also applicable to a vast variety of products in the food and cosmetic industry. Expancel FG is a series of thermoplastic expandable microspheres that meets the European require ments of the direct food legislations EC 2002/72 and EC 1935/2004. Expancel microspheres add benefits to everyday items such as detergents, vinyl, automotive parts, agricultural products, pharmaceutical products, food products, wallpaper adhesives, plastic bags and cosmetics.

19 6 different forms Expancel WU wet, unexpanded microspheres. Expancel DU dry, unexpanded microspheres. Expancel SL slurry, microspheres dispersed in water. Expancel MB masterbatch, microspheres mixed with a carrier. Expancel WE wet, expanded microspheres. Expancel DET dry, expanded microspheres.

20 Depending on your ingredients we recommend the choice of Expancel microspheres that best meet and fulfill your needs. This is where it happens. When you improve your product by using ours. We can improve the properties and performance of your product and increase your profitability. The use of Expancel microsphere not only improves the properties of the product, it also represents consider able savings in the cost of materials, production and finishing, handling and transportation. Materials The cost of many products, such as putties, paints, cultured marble, acrylic latex caulk, polyurethane sealants, silicone rubbers, paper and board can be reduced thanks to material savings when adding microspheres. Production and finishing The use of microspheres can provide cost savings during production and finishing in various ways. This includes higher speed or lower energy consumption in paper and board production. Improved sanding characteristics of putties and auto body fillers. Easier deflashing, trimming, grinding, drilling and threading of thermosets and cultured marble. Handling and transportationthe very light weight of Expancel microspheres contributes greatly toward reducing the handling and transportation cost of products. For example, the inclusion of microspheres in bathroom fixtures made from cultured marble reduces freight costs, installation costs (fewer people needed) and reduces the risk of breakage during transportation, handling and installation.

21 Expancel WU wet, unexpanded microspheres Expancel WU is used in waterborne products and heat is needed to cause expansion of the microspheres in the product. For example, Expancel WU can be used for carpet underlays to increase friction. The solid content is about 70%. Expancel WU is delivered in fiber drums or flexible IBC. Expancel DU dry, unexpanded microspheres Expancel DU is used in products where no water can be added, for example in industrial nonwoven textiles to improve bulk and thickness. Heat is needed in the process to cause expansion of the microspheres in the product. Expancel DU is delivered in fiber drums, plastic bags or flexible IBC. Expancel SL slurry, microspheres dispersed in water Expancel SL is a dispersion of unexpanded microspheres in water. The product is used where it is important that the product is extremely easy to disperse. For example, Expancel SL can be used in boxboard or fine paper to improve bulk and stiffness. Heat is needed in the process to cause expansion of the microspheres in the product. Expancel SL is delivered in semibulk containers. Expancel MB masterbatch, microspheres in a carrier Expancel MB is used in thermoplastic applications to improve dispersion of the microspheres. It is Expancel DU mixed with a carrier. Heat is needed to cause expansion of the microspheres in the product. Expancel MB is delivered in plastic bags. Expancel WE wet, expanded microspheres Expancel WE is used in waterborne products such as paints and crack fillers to reduce weight and improve applicability. The solid content is about 15%. Expancel WE is delivered in plastic bags. Expancel DET dry, expanded microspheres Expancel DET is, among other areas, used in car underbody coatings to reduce weight. Expancel DET is delivered in plastic bags.

22 Expancel microspheres are delivered in different packaging depending on the characteristics of the product and to ensure convenient handling for our customers. The unexpanded types Expancel WU and DU, are delivered in fibre drums or flexible IBC, depending on the volume. The expanded grade, Expancel DET, is delivered in fibreboard boxes containing one or more plastic bag(s). Expancel WE is delivered in plastic bags or in cardboard boxes with plastic bags. One grade, Expancel 820 SL, is delivered as an aqueous slurry in semi-bulk containers. Several systems are available for Expancel DET to help you handle the products in a safe way. We have specially designed a system for the continuous feeding of Expancel DET. A screw feeder combined with a silo. To fill the silo there is a handling system for emptying the bags, consisting of a bag holder, a puncturing spear and a diaphragm pump.

23 Convenient packaging options Expancel microspheres are delivered in different packaging depending on the characteristics of the product and also to ensure convenient handling for our customers. Fiber drum Products: Expancel WU Expancel DU Fiberboard box Products: Expancel DET Plastic bag Products: Expancel DU Expancel MB Expancel WE Flexible IBC Products: Expancel WU Expancel DU Semibulk container Products: Expancel SL

24 We re committed to reducing our impact on the planet and delivering more sustainable products and solutions to our customers. But we can only do this if sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. That s why we ve integrated sustainability into every area of our business for the benefit of our clients, shareholders, employees and the world around us.

25 Sustainability We take pride in working in a sustainable way. In proof of this we have been certified according to: ISO 9001 Quality ISO Environment OHSAS Work environment C-TPAT - Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism AEO Authorized Economic Operator

26 During the process of exploring the world of Expancel microspheres you might want to get a closer look and feel of the product. We can supply you with both samples of different sorts and detailed Technical Bulletins that describes the products. Don t hesitate to contact us for more information. Eka Chemicals AB Expancel Box SE Sundsvall Sweden T E info@expancel.com Comments The information contained in this leaflet is the result of our research and experience. It is given in good faith, but under no circumstances does it constitute a guarantee on our part, nor does it hold us responsible, particularly in the case of legal action by a third party.

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28 AkzoNobel is the largest global paints and coatings company and a major producer of specialty chemicals. We supply industries and consumers worldwide with innovative products and are passionate about developing sustainable answers for our customers. Our portfolio includes well known brands such as Dulux, Sikkens, International and Eka. Headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, we are a Global Fortune 500 company and are consistently ranked as one of the leaders on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes. With operations in more than 80 countries, our 55,000 people around the world are committed to excellence and delivering Tomorrow s Answers Today AkzoNobel NV. All rights reserved. Tomorrow s Answers Today is a trademark of AkzoNobel NV. Registered trademark of AkzoNobel in a number of territories.