About Glass Bubbles

3M™ Glass Bubbles are high strength, lightweight additives used for density reduction, thermal insulation and buoyancy in many kinds of syntactic foam compositions. Available in pressure ratings from 250psi to 27,000 psi, and densities ranging from 0.125 g/cc to 0.6 g/cc, 3M glass bubbles also help improve reliability and reduce costs in a variety of demanding applications, including underwater pipelines, risers, ROVs, moorings and other components used in deepwater oil exploration and production.

Composition

3M glass bubbles are made from water-resistant and chemically stable soda-lime borosilicate glass, similar to the material used to make laboratory beakers. They are inert particles compatible with commonly used components of insulating and buoyancy systems, including polyurethane, polypropylene and epoxy. What's more, they are virtually insoluble in water -- providing excellent utility in offshore applications.

Any 3M glass bubble can be surface treated to enhance bonding with the resin and to minimize a foam's water pickup at high pressures.

3M glass bubbles are manufactured in the U.S., France and Korea to be closer to the customer.