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  3. Advanced Materials
  4. Glass Bubbles

3M Glass Bubblesfor Design & Construction

3M™ Glass Bubbles for Construction Hero
Lighten your workload.

3M™ Glass Bubbles make spackling, engineered wood and other building materials lighter weight and easier to work with.

Lighter, more flexibile advanced material solutions from 3M.

  • 3M™ Glass Bubbles as an additive

    Used as density-reducing additives, these hollow glass microspheres help create building materials that are versatile, lightweight and easy to work with. Their low density enables higher filler loading, as well as a lower cost per volume compared to many conventional fillers. Because of their spherical shape, 3M™ glass bubbles behave like tiny ball bearings, easily rolling over one another. This can help improve the flow of many materials to which they are added. 3M glass bubbles can also help improve sandability and reduce shrinkage and warpage in spackling compounds, wood composites and other materials – helping reduce rework.

    3M glass bubbles are engineered to withstand the high temperatures and stresses of processing conditions such as liquid phase polymer processing, high-viscosity melt compounding and high-pressure injection molding. Potential applications include:
     

    • Low-shrink spackling, putties, caulks and sealants
    • Potting compounds
    • Machinable, sandable compounds
    • Cultured marble
    • Preformed concrete
    • Extruded profiles for window and door trim
    • Architectural base coves
    • Molded décor
    • Engineered wood
    • Lightweight hand-held tools

    In addition, 3M glass bubbles can be formulated into a variety of paints and specialty coatings, including solar reflective roof coatings.

  • Engineered wood planks made with 3M glass bubbles
    Engineered wood created with 3M™ Glass Bubbles

    3M glass bubbles can be used to create polymer/wood composites that behave more like natural wood. By providing greater void volume, 3M glass bubbles make it easier for nails and screws to penetrate the typically dense polymer. The low thermal conductivity of 3M glass bubbles can also enable composites that retain the warm feel of natural wood.
     

    • Superior machinability and sandability
    • Easier nail and screw acceptance
    • Retains strong corners and edges
    • Ideal for decking, outdoor furniture and more

    Download our technical paper to learn more:
    Processing Behavior, Morphology and Benefits of Using Low Density Hollow Glass Microspheres in Polymer Wood Composites (PDF, 923 KB)


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)

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  • 3M™ Glass Bubbles are intended for industrial applications and manufactured to industrial specifications in conformance with various recognized industrial quality standards. These products are not intended, designed, manufactured or labeled for sale to or use by consumers, or for medical device, food/food supplement/food additive, drug, or cosmetics applications. 3M Advanced Materials Division (3M) will assess the intended use of 3M™ Glass Bubbles and reserves the right not to sample, sell or supply if 3M determines that it is not in a position to support the intended use of 3M™ Glass Bubbles.


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Resources for Design & Construction Advanced Materials

  • Handling Information
    • 3M™ Glass Bubbles Bag Unloading Suggestions
      Download (PDF, 298 KB)
    • 3M™ Glass Bubbles Metering and Mixing Guide
      Download (PDF, 215 KB)
    • 3M™ Glass Bubbles Box Unloading Instructions
      Download (PDF, 359 KB)

  • Technical Papers
    • Glass Bubble Survival During Twin Screw Compounding
      Download (PDF, 945 KB)
    • “Plug-N-Play” Weight Reduction Solution by Hollow Glass Microspheres
      Download (PDF, 1.5 MB)
    • Benefits & Processing Behavior of Glass Bubbles in Polymer Wood Composites
      Download (PDF, 923 KB)


13 products

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Image for 3M Glass Bubbles S38HS

3M™ Glass Bubbles S38HS

Options available
Image for 3M Glass Bubbles S22

3M™ Glass Bubbles S22

Options available
0.38 g/cm³; 5,500 psi

3M™ Glass Bubbles S38XHS

3M Stock

B40064621

Alternative ID

S38XHS

0.32 g/cm³; 2,000 psi

3M™ Glass Bubbles S32

Options available
Image for 3M Glass Bubbles K15

3M™ Glass Bubbles K15

Options available
Image for 3M Glass Bubbles iM16K

3M™ Glass Bubbles iM16K

Options available
0.60 g/cm³; 6,000 psi

3M™ Glass Bubbles S60

3M Stock

B40064607

Alternative ID

S60

0.38 g/cm³; 4,000 psi

3M™ Glass Bubbles S38

Options available
0.15 g/cm³; 300 psi

3M™ Glass Bubbles S15

Options available
Image for 3M Glass Bubbles K1

3M™ Glass Bubbles K1

Options available
Image for 3M Glass Bubbles K46

3M™ Glass Bubbles K46

Options available
Image for 3M Glass Bubbles K20

3M™ Glass Bubbles K20

Options available
0.60 g/cm³; 27,000 psi

3M™ Glass Bubbles iM30K

Options available
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