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Glass Bubbles

The general purpose K Series glass bubbles are the most versatile and economical 3M™ Glass Bubbles.  Glass Bubbles K20 are engineered hollow glass spheres made from water-resistant and chemically-stable soda-lime borosilicate glass. Like all 3M glass bubbles, the K20 glass bubbles are water and oil resistant, providing better utility in underwater applications. Additionally, they are non-combustible and non-porous, so they do not absorb resin; and their low alkalinity makes this product compatible with most resins while providing a stable viscosity and a long shelf life.

3M glass bubbles are a superior alternative to many conventional fillers and additives such as silicas, calcium carbonate, talc, clay and other materials used in demanding applications. Our low-density spheres are used in a wide range of industries to reduce part weight, may lower costs and enhance product properties — making them more reliable and affordable than many alternatives such as cenospheres and perlite.

Sold by the Gallon.

SKU: B23/500 Category:
SKU Price Buy Cart
SKU: B23/500 Size: Gallon Made on Request: Yes Price: $11.04
Quantity
Made on Request

Description

Strength-to-Weight Ratio
The benefits don’t end there; although these hollow spheres have thin walls, they have an isostatic crush strength of 500 psi, making them suitable for a number of buoyancy applications, including additives in buoys and shallow water buoyancy applications (e.g. up to 2,000 feet of sea water). K20 bubbles have a fractional survival rate of 80% or more, at 500 psi for consistent performance in highly filled resin systems.

The unique spherical shape of these bubbles offers a number of additional benefits, including: higher filler loading, lower viscosity/improved flow and reduced shrinkage and warpage. Higher filler loading offers the potential for lower costs. Adding to this product’s versatility is its ability to be easily blended into compounds — making it adaptable to a variety of production processes including spraying, casting and molding.

Buoyancy Benefits and Applications
The ideal combination of high strength and low density has made 3M glass bubbles an industry-standard additive for syntactic foams used in buoyancy modules, buoys or buoyancy blocks for undersea vehicles. When 3M glass bubbles are formulated with resin, the resulting syntactic foam has a high strength-to-density ratio to provide maximum net buoyancy for a given depth rating. The bubbles also produce stable voids, which results in low thermal conductivity and low dielectric constant.

Typical Properties
Application
Buoyancy
Brand
3M™
Capabilities
Chemical Resistance, Lightweighting, Temperature Resistance
Color (unaided eye)
White, powdery
Composition
Soda-lime-borosilicate glass
Crush Strength
500
Density (g/cc)
0.2
Industries
Construction, Insulation and Buoyancy, Mining, Paints and Coatings, Transportation
Median Particle Diameter
60
Net Weight (Imperial)
0.5 lb, 10 lb, 12800 lb, 335 lb, 340 lb, 360 lb, 60 lb
Product Color
White
Shape
Hollow spheres with thin walls
Strength (MPa)
3.4

 

Q & A

Note: Wicks personnel are not certified aircraft mechanics and can only provide general support and ideas, which should not be relied upon wihout consulting a qualified technician. Wicks assumes no responsibility or liability for any issue or problem which may arise from any repair, modification or other work done from this knowledge base. Any product eligibility information provided here is based on general application guides and we recommend always referring to your specific aircraft parts manual, the parts manufacturer or consulting with a qualified mechanic.
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