Trends in microencapsulation research

Abstract

A microcapsule is a tiny capsule and its preparation procedure, called microencapsulation, can endow various traits to the core material in order to add secondary functions and/or compensate for shortcomings. This paper first gives a general overview of microencapsulation technology and subsequent sections cover topics of microencapsulation research, including application of microcapsules to information and image technologies for microparticle-based paper-like display systems, a use that has attracted considerable attention recently. The research results of the project conducted by the Japan Chemical Innovation Institute under the commission of NEDO, as one of the projects of the METI Nanotechnology Program to develop microparticle-based paper-like display systems, are also introduced.