Patent ID: 6235801
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: C08J

Abstract:
A method of expanding a gel material, comprising the steps of:(a) providing a mixture comprising a curable gel precursor material and a plurality of heat-expandable microspheres, the gel precursor material being curable into a noncrystalline crosslinked gel material having a tensile strength of no greater than about 150 psi upon subjection to a pre-determined curing condition and the microspheres being expandable upon heating to a expansion temperature, the pre-determined curing condition not causing the expansion of the microspheres;(b) subjecting the mixture to the curing condition to cure the gel precursor material into a gel material which(1) has a tensile strength of no greater than about 150 psi,(2) comprises a crosslinked silicone gel, and(3) contains the microspheres; and(c) heating the crosslinked gel material containing the microspheres to the expansion temperature, causing the microspheres to expand and thereby also causing the expansion of the gel material.