What is microsphere technology and how does it work? Microsphere adhesive technology is the process of polymerizing large acrylic spherical particles to be used in the process of formulating pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSA). Microspheres are tiny particles measuring between 10 and 250 microns in diameter. Although they are microscopic in size, these spheres are still much larger than the emulsion particles found in conventional adhesives.

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2. What is microsphere technology and how does it work?
Microsphere adhesive technology is the process of polymerizing large acrylic spherical
particles to be used in the process of formulating pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSA).
Microspheres are tiny particles measuring between 10 and 250 microns in diameter.
Although they are microscopic in size, these spheres are still much larger than the
emulsion particles found in conventional adhesives.

3. The size difference has a dramatic impact on adhesive tack and peel adhesion level, since
contact between microspheres and surfaces only occurs at the tops of the spheres.
By forming a discontinuous adhesive film, microsphere adhesives limit physical contact,
resulting in low peel adhesion levels, removability and stable peel adhesion level over
time.
Conventional emulsion adhesives use smaller particles, which coalesce into a continuous
adhesive film and in most cases do not allow for easy removal or repositioning.

4. Describe the benefits of microsphere adhesives vs. conventional emulsion adhesives.
Microsphere adhesives are used when there is a need for low peel adhesion level, easy
removability, and maintained peel adhesion level over time.
Microsphere adhesives accomplish these desired characteristics due to their large physical
structure.
The large microsphere particle size reduces the contact area between the surface and the
microsphere adhesive.
Peel adhesion level is therefore much more controlled and stable compared with the
continuous adhesive film created by conventional emulsion adhesives.
What applications and substrate types work with microsphere adhesives?
Items produced with microsphere adhesive technology can be attached and cleanly
removed during various stages of the manufacturing process.
Bar code and information labels can be easily removed from a variety of consumer
products and packages without leaving visible residue, markings, or damaging the surface.

5. Removable and repositionable wall graphics
o Window graphics
o Signage
o Point of purchase advertisements
o Painter's masking tapes
o Direct thermal printed cash register receipts
o Coupons
o Magazine advertisement inserts
o Newspaper notes
o Adhesive note pads
o Mailer advertisements
o Credit card and gift card attachments
o Labels

6. Substrate types
✓ Paper
✓ Polyvinyl chloride (Vinyl) Films
✓ Polyethylene Films
✓ Polyester Films
✓ Polypropylene Films
✓ Polyolefin Films
What microsphere adhesive formulations are available?
H.B. Fuller manufactures a variety of average particle size microspheres including 15,
20, 25, 30, 35, 45 and 55 micron averages to meet the needs of our customers.
They also develop custom microsphere adhesive formulations to meet customer
product challenges.

7. Microspheres are tiny particles measuring between 10 and 250 microns (1 millionth of a
meter) in diameter.
Individually invisible, when grouped together microspheres have a very visible effect.
At H.B. Fuller, the power of microsphere technology to formulate water-based acrylic
microsphere adhesives with ready to go formulations , as well as our unmatched
customization capabilities to meet your unique requirements.
Removable and Repositionable Microsphere Adhesive
In emulsion systems, the fine adhesive particles, when dried, coalesce to form a
continuous film.
This smooth adhesive film, in prolonged contact with a surface, will increase in peel
strength over time.

8. The mechanism by which a microsphere system operates is through its physical
structure.
The microsphere adhesive, when dried, will form a discontinuous bonding film. In the
microsphere adhesive system, contact is limited to the tops of the spheres.

9. Everyday Enhancement
Manufacturers are finding that commodity removable and ultra-removable adhesives
have their shortcomings, and maybe some liabilities.
Microsphere adhesives eliminate these issues, while also enhancing everyday items like:
✓ Labels that can be removed without leaving any visible residue, markings, or damage
✓ Photo albums
✓ Consumer advertising
✓ Masking tapes
✓ Wall or window decals, graphics, and wallpapers
✓ Removable note pads

10. Benefits of Microspheres
Emulsion adhesives coalesce to form a continuous film that’s uneasy to remove or
reposition.
Moreover, emulsion adhesives tend to build tack over time and become a more
permanent bond.
Microsphere adhesives, however, overcome these issues thanks to a size difference in
their emulsion particles that reduces the contact area for a more controlled tack.
This allows microsphere adhesives to form a discontinuous bonding film, resulting in a
more stable tack with low peel and high removability.

11. Microsphere Adhesives Open a World of Possibilities
Microsphere adhesives limit physical contact by forming a discontinuous adhesive
surface.
Peel and re-stick.
The number of times a label or other product coated with a microsphere adhesive can be
re-applied seems as endless as the possible applications for this product-the most
repositionable pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) developed to date.
Microsphere adhesive technology was developed in 1968 and subsequently appeared as
the glue strip on the back of repositionable notepaper.
Recently, Franklin Adhesives & Polymers developed its own microsphere technology
and introduced Micronax®, a new line of microsphere adhesives.

12. The Micronax brand of microsphere adhesives expands the versatility of microsphere
adhesives, offering formulations for use in a host of applications well beyond sticky
notes.
Micronax takes the basic formulation for microspheres to the next level, in part by
varying the sizes of the particles-or spheres-that render microsphere adhesives so
repositionable.
Larger Spheres
Microsphere adhesives offer advanced performance characteristics, yet their
repositionability is based on a simple concept: particle size.
Microspheres are tiny particles that measure between 10 and 250 microns in diameter.
Although they are microscopic in size, these spheres are still much larger than the
emulsion particles found in conventional adhesives.
The size difference between the particles has a dramatic impact on adhesive tack..

13. By forming a discontinuous adhesive surface, microsphere adhesives limit physical
contact. This results in low peel and stable tack over time.
The microsphere adhesive holds products firmly in place on most substrates, but it is
easily removable and permanently repositionable.
Conversely, emulsion adhesives use smaller particles that coalesce into a continuous film
that is not repositionable.
Their larger particle size imparts the power of repositionability to microsphere adhesives,
giving coaters and product manufacturers a versatile adhesive for use in countless
applications.
Microsphere adhesives hold products firmly in place on most substrates but are easily
removable and permanently repositionable.

14. Multiple Uses
The high repositionability of microspheres, coupled with the increased versatility offered
through the new Micronax formulation, opens new possibilities for use of this PSA.
The microspheres adhere very well to a variety of common substrates, including paper,
cardboard, films, wood and ceramic.
What’s more, they adhere to additional substrates that typically require special adhesive
formulations, such as metal, painted surfaces, tinted windows, refrigerators, walls,
cabinets and photos.

15. Several performance characteristics increase the versatility of the new adhesives.
For example, they are resistant to ultraviolet rays, which makes them ideal for products
that are likely to be exposed to the sun.
They can be screen-printed at no risk to their long-term performance, and they have
gained U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for indirect food contact so
they can be used on food-packaging applications.
They also can be printed, die-cut and transfer coated.
In addition, they are acid-free, which eliminates the risk of damage to substrates, such as
photos, over the long term.

16. Micronax microsphere adhesives also offer the ability to customize sphere sizes, from
20-80 microns, for varying degrees of tack.
All Micronax microspheres are easily repositionable,
✓ but they vary in viscosity;
✓ percentage of solids;
✓ pH value;
✓ shelf life;
✓ and tack, peel, and shear.
Existing and custom formulations can easily meet varying requirements for applications
that require a highly repositionable PSA.

17. Any item that needs to be removed and reapplied to virtually any substrate (but that
needs to adhere well over time) is a candidate for this adhesive technology.
Topping the list of potential applications are product decorations, wall graphics,
temporary signage and repositionable notes.
Microsphere adhesives could be used to develop effective, attention-getting advertising
pieces, and they also have potential in the arts and crafts arena.
These microspheres are proven to work well in laminators, dispensers, glue dots, glue
sticks, wet glues, glue pens, tapes, adhesive sheets, and other products for gluing
substrates in the creation of just about any handcrafted work of art.

18. Microspheres also satisfy the appetite for easy sealing in the food packaging industry.
A strip of the adhesive can make it easy to open and close bags of cookies, bread, and
other consumables that need to remain fresh in their original containers.
Safer for this Sphere
Micronax microspheres are water-based; they contain no solvents that can be damaging
to the environment.
The repositionability and durability can also result in less waste over time, thereby
reducing the impact on landfills.

19. Microsphere Handling Tips
General
Microspheres are shear-sensitive.
Avoid the destabilizing forces of high-shear pumping, filtering, high-speed mixing, and
coating methods.
Small pumps operating at slow speeds and gentle mixing are preferred.
Microspheres tend to rise to the top of their container. Gently stir microspheres before
each use or transfer.
Microspheres are pH-sensitive. Maintain pH between 7.9-9.5. If needed, adjust pH with
21% aqueous ammonia.
Coagulated microspheres are unrecoverable. Any microsphere product that appears
gelatinous should be discarded.

20. Storage
Temperatures of 50 to 90ºF ( 10 to 32 ºC )
Do not freeze.
Shelf life: six months.
Use partial drums that have been used in the coating process promptly. These tend to
lose stability on standing.
Pumping and Filtration
Air creates foam. Keep the pump inlet below the liquid level to prevent drawing both
air and liquid into the pump.
Do not use felt filter bags. Fine filtration removes spheres. Do not use filters finer than
60 mesh or finer than 250 microns.
Pressures creates shear. Change filter bags when pressure exceeds 30 psi.

21. Handling
Add all formulating ingredients slowly under agitation. Agitation should be at a speed
that generates a vortex but does not generate splashing and/or foam.
Defoamer can be added to minimize foam in the coating operation, typically 0.1-0.2%
if oil-based and 0.1% if silicone-based. Pre-mix defoamer at a ratio of 1:1 with water.
Coating
Micronax products can be rod, roll (e.g., gravure) or slot-die coated.
Avoid the free-fall of adhesive during the recirculation process. Laminar flow is
recommended during the coating operation.

22. What is microsphere adhesive?
Microsphere adhesive technology is the process of polymerizing large acrylic spherical
particles to be used in the process of formulating pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSA).
Microspheres are tiny particles measuring between 10 and 250 microns in diameter.
What is microsphere technology?
Image result for what is new in microsphere adhesive technology
Microsphere Technology is an innovative materials technology company specializing in
the coating of microspheres.
The core technology of Microsphere Technology is the ability to coat glass and ceramic
particles with nanometer thick layers of pigments, dyes, metals or metal oxides.
Just to Sum up

23. What is the chemical composition of microspheres?
According to the research findings, heavy fraction microspheres contain
aluminosilicate ferrous composition, iron oxides and, less often, native iron.
The particle size ranges between 50 and 150 μm.
The structural and textural features of the microspheres are quite diverse.
What is polymeric microsphere?
The use of polymers for synthesizing microspheres enables the production of uniformly
shaped and well-defined spheres in a wide range of sizes.
Polymeric microspheres can be synthesized using a variety of different methods

24. Are microspheres nanoparticles?
Microspheres are monolithic particles possessing a porous or solid polymer matrix,
whereas microcapsules consist of a polymeric membrane surrounding a solid or liquid
drug reservoir.
Why do we need microspheres?
Formulators can use microspheres to increase the solid content of a coating while
maintaining the proper application and flow characteristics.
Because hollow spheres will lower the density of materials they are added to, a gallon
of coating will weigh less than the same product made without spheres.

25. Which of the following is a characteristic of microspheres?
Which of the following is a characteristic of microspheres?
Explanation: Microspheres are free flowing powders consisting of spherical particles of
size less than 125 microns which can be suspended on a suitable aqueous vehicle.
Why Linerless labels might be an opportunity for innovation
One of the exciting aspects of adhesive innovation is giving converters and
manufacturers the opportunity to create need where it didn’t exist before.
Twenty years ago, for example, who knew that we needed wall decals that we can
reposition multiple times to enable us to transform the look of our living space?

26. This is just one of many products making use of microsphere adhesive technology. And
it doesn’t stop there.
Another relatively new pressure sensitive market is Linerless labels, a market estimated
to grow at CAGR 4.6% between 2017 and 2023.
A wide range of businesses are now choosing Linerless labels as a conduit to improve
their sustainability and competitive edge.
It’s exciting how businesses are exploring the potential of microsphere adhesive
technology.
Linerless labels – the benefits
As you would expect from the name, Linerless labels are pressure sensitive labels but
without the silicone release liner – the backing paper from which you peel a label
before sticking it on to something else.
Microsphere technology makes Linerless labels possible and, as it is a water-based
adhesive solution, it is easy to integrate into existing water-based coating lines.

27. Linerless labels are increasingly being used in many everyday activities such as labels
on takeaway coffee cups and containers, logistics labels for shipping, printed
supermarket labels for fresh produce and workflow labels in service or repair
industries.

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