3M Glass Bubblesfor Design & Construction

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
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
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

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

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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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