3M™ Glass Bubbles
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Imagine lighter-weight vehicles that can travel farther on less fuel. More efficient ways to drill for oil and insulate deepsea pipelines. Paint that helps keep homes cooler on hot, sunny days. In all these ways and more, 3M™ Glass Bubbles are helping a wide range of industrial sectors solve design challenges and reach new levels of performance and productivity.
3M glass bubbles are high-strength, low-density hollow glass microspheres made from soda-lime borosilicate glass. They are nonporous, chemically stable and provide excellent water and oil resistance. Strong enough to survive processing, they can be incorporated into a wide range of polymers for density reduction. And the benefits of 3M glass bubbles go far beyond lightweighting: the inherent properties of these microspheres provide a number of unique performance and processing advantages.
- Weight reduction
- Dimensional stability
- Thermal insulation
- Reduced resin demand
- Cycle time reduction
- Solar reflectivity
- Low dielectric constant
Applications
Browse the links below to take a closer look at how you could benefit from incorporating 3M glass bubbles in your industry.
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Automotive and Commercial VehicleAutomotive and Commercial Vehicle
3M glass bubbles can be used in a variety of interior and exterior automotive and commercial vehicle applications, from pillar trim and central consoles to the hood, fenders, tire tubs and much more. Other applications include auto body filler, lightweight seam sealer and underbody coatings.
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Construction MaterialsConstruction Materials
From low-shrinkage spackling to engineered wood, 3M glass bubbles help make construction materials lighter and easier to work with.
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Drilling Fluids & CementsDrilling Fluids & Cements
In control fluids and cement slurries, 3M glass bubbles help reduce and control downhole pressure to improve well efficiency and productivity.
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Insulation & BuoyancyInsulation & Buoyancy
Syntactic foams filled with 3M glass bubbles are used for thermal insulation for pipeline and risers, and for buoyancy modules with maximum lift at any depth rating.
Applications
Browse the links below to take a closer look at how you could benefit from incorporating 3M glass bubbles in your industry.
-
Automotive and Commercial Vehicle
3M glass bubbles can be used in a variety of interior and exterior automotive and commercial vehicle applications, from pillar trim and central consoles to the hood, fenders, tire tubs and much more. Other applications include auto body filler, lightweight seam sealer and underbody coatings.
-
Construction Materials
From low-shrinkage spackling to engineered wood, 3M glass bubbles help make construction materials lighter and easier to work with.
-
-
Drilling Fluids & Cements
In control fluids and cement slurries, 3M glass bubbles help reduce and control downhole pressure to improve well efficiency and productivity.
-
Insulation & Buoyancy
Syntactic foams filled with 3M glass bubbles are used for thermal insulation for pipeline and risers, and for buoyancy modules with maximum lift at any depth rating.
-
Applications
Browse the links below to take a closer look at how you could benefit from incorporating 3M glass bubbles in your industry.
-
Automotive and Commercial Vehicle
3M glass bubbles can be used in a variety of interior and exterior automotive and commercial vehicle applications, from pillar trim and central consoles to the hood, fenders, tire tubs and much more. Other applications include auto body filler, lightweight seam sealer and underbody coatings.
-
-
Construction Materials
From low-shrinkage spackling to engineered wood, 3M glass bubbles help make construction materials lighter and easier to work with.
-
-
Drilling Fluids & Cements
In control fluids and cement slurries, 3M glass bubbles help reduce and control downhole pressure to improve well efficiency and productivity.
-
-
Insulation & Buoyancy
Syntactic foams filled with 3M glass bubbles are used for thermal insulation for pipeline and risers, and for buoyancy modules with maximum lift at any depth rating.
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-
MiningMining
As a sensitizer in explosive formulations, 3M glass bubbles provide stable, consistent internal voids for more efficient detonation.
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Paints & CoatingsPaints & Coatings
3M glass bubbles allow high filler loading at lower viscosities, reduce shrinkage and offer solar reflective properties for paints and specialty coatings.
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Plastics & RubberPlastics & Rubber
From lightweight packaging to furniture, sporting goods and even electronics, 3M glass bubbles can be used in an astonishing variety of injection molded and extruded parts and products.
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TransportationTransportation
3M glass bubbles reduce part weight, helping improve fuel efficiency in aircraft, automotive, commercial and recreational vehicles – all while maintaining desirable physical properties.
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Mining
As a sensitizer in explosive formulations, 3M glass bubbles provide stable, consistent internal voids for more efficient detonation.
-
Paints & Coatings
3M glass bubbles allow high filler loading at lower viscosities, reduce shrinkage and offer solar reflective properties for paints and specialty coatings.
-
-
Plastics & Rubber
From lightweight packaging to furniture, sporting goods and even electronics, 3M glass bubbles can be used in an astonishing variety of injection molded and extruded parts and products.
-
Transportation
3M glass bubbles reduce part weight, helping improve fuel efficiency in aircraft, automotive, commercial and recreational vehicles – all while maintaining desirable physical properties.
-
-
Mining
As a sensitizer in explosive formulations, 3M glass bubbles provide stable, consistent internal voids for more efficient detonation.
-
-
Paints & Coatings
3M glass bubbles allow high filler loading at lower viscosities, reduce shrinkage and offer solar reflective properties for paints and specialty coatings.
-
-
Plastics & Rubber
From lightweight packaging to furniture, sporting goods and even electronics, 3M glass bubbles can be used in an astonishing variety of injection molded and extruded parts and products.
-
-
Transportation
3M glass bubbles reduce part weight, helping improve fuel efficiency in aircraft, automotive, commercial and recreational vehicles – all while maintaining desirable physical properties.
-
Support
3M glass bubbles are supported by our global sales, technical and customer service resources. Contact us for more information, including formulation assistance or questions about a specific application.
Call 800-367-8905 (7:30 AM - 5:00 PM Central)
3M glass bubbles are supported by our global sales, technical and customer service resources. Contact us for more information, including formulation assistance or questions about a specific application.
Call 800-367-8905 (7:30 AM - 5:00 PM Central)
Let’s Work Together
General Resources
For application-specific literature, choose one of the Application links above.
Application Profiles
Technical Papers
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