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  3. Advanced Materials
  4. Glass Bubbles

3M Glass Bubblesfor Design & Construction

3M™ Glass Bubbles for Paints & Coatings
Lighter. Brighter. Cooler. Smarter.

Hollow glass microspheres can provide density reduction, solar reflectivity and more.

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3M Glass Bubbles are supported by our global sales, technical and customer service resources. Contact a sales rep for more information, including formulation assistance or questions about a specific application.

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3M Glass Bubbles for paints and coatings

From single family homes to large industrial plants, paints and coatings are the first line of protection for the buildings that shelter our businesses and lives. And weathering the elements year after year – while keeping down initial and long-term costs – requires the right materials.

3M™ Glass Bubbles provide a high performance, cost-effective alternative to conventional fillers in a variety of paints and specialty coatings. These hollow glass microspheres are used as density-reducing additives, helping lower formulation weight and viscosity, and can contribute to a variety of functional benefits ranging from scratch resistance to solar reflectivity. Available in a wide range of strengths, densities and particle sizes, 3M Glass Bubbles can help you meet the performance and processing demands of your application.
 

  • Acrylic and industrial latex paints
  • Solar reflective roof coatings
  • Epoxy coatings

View our selection guide to help you identify the grade of 3M glass bubbles (PDF, 1.9 MB) with the optimal balance of properties for your formulation.

  • Boost performance icons of a feather, bubble, arrows pointing at each other and a crusher icon.  External Link URL (Required If Link Text Is Used): none
    Boost performance

    The high strength, low density and unique physical properties of 3M Glass Bubbles can provide a number of advantages compared to paints and coatings formulated with conventional, irregularly-shaped fillers.
     

    • Improved abrasion resistance (depending on product grade)
    • Reduced thermal expansion and shrinkage
    • Uniform spherical shapes help improve flow that can then provide for a more efficient process and easier application
    • Higher volume loading and weight reduction
  • Help save energy icons of a sun, sunlight bouncing off pavement, thermometer temperature going down, and money with arrow trending downward.
    Help save energy

    Cool isn't just a matter of comfort. Effective solar management – or the lack of it – can have a significant impact on your bottom line. Testing shows that solar reflective roof coatings formulated with 3M Glass Bubbles can offer a number of performance and cost benefits compared to typical "cool roof" coatings.
     

    • Higher total solar reflectance
    • Higher thermal emissivity (ability to give up heat)
    • Lower inside temperatures
    • Lower cooling costs

     


3M Glass Bubbles for construction

  • Painter applying paint to a high rise building from a scaffold.

    In construction, 3M Glass Bubbles used as an additive 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. 3M Glass Bubbles can also help improve sandability and reduce shrinkage and warpage in spackling compounds, wood composites and other materials – helping you reduce rework.

    They withstand the high temperatures and stresses of processing conditions such as liquid phase polymer processing, high-viscosity melt compounding and high-pressure injection molding.
     

    • Spackling, caulks, adhesives
    • Potting compounds
    • Preformed concrete
    • Engineered wood

Glass Bubbles resources

  • General resources

    3M™ Microspheres: Paints & Coatings Application Guide (PDF, 1.9 MB)

  • Handling information

    3M™ Glass Bubbles Bag Unloading Suggestions (PDF, 215.81 KB)

    3M™ Glass Bubbles Metering and Mixing Guide (PDF, 323.45 KB)

    3M™ Glass Bubbles Box Unloading Suggestions (PDF, 359 KB)

  • Technical papers

    Performance Advantages of Glass Bubbles In Energy-Related Coatings Applications (PDF, 1.83 MB)

    Glass Bubble Survival During Twin Screw Compounding (PDF, 576 KB)

    “Plug-N-Play” Weight Reduction Solution by Hollow Glass Microspheres (PDF, 882 KB)

    Benefits & Processing Behavior of Glass Bubbles in Polymer Wood Composites (PDF, 397 KB)

    The use of 3M™ Glass Bubbles to increase time until condensation forms on painted surfaces (PDF, 667 KB)


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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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7 products

Your selections:

  • Industries: Design & Construction
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Image for 3M Glass Bubbles K37

3M™ Glass Bubbles K37

Options available
0.15 g/cm³; 300 psi

3M™ Glass Bubbles S15

Options available
Image for 3M Glass Bubbles S22

3M™ Glass Bubbles S22

Options available
Image for 3M Glass Bubbles K20HS

3M™ Glass Bubbles K20HS

3M Stock

B5005217016

Image for 3M Glass Bubbles S28HS

3M™ Glass Bubbles S28HS

3M Stock

B40064646

Alternative ID

S28HS

Image for 3M Glass Bubbles K1

3M™ Glass Bubbles K1

Options available
Image for 3M Glass Bubbles K15

3M™ Glass Bubbles K15

Options available
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