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3M™ Glass Bubbles for Buoyancy


3M™ Glass Bubbles have pressure ratings ranging from 250 psi to 18,000 psi and densities ranging from 0.125 g/cc to 0.6 g/cc. When made into syntactic foams, they can be used in buoyancy modules, buoys, moorings, or undersea vehicles.

In addition, unlike some competing products, 3M™ Glass Bubbles are virtually insoluble in water…providing better utility in underwater applications.

Choose the grade of 3M™ Glass Bubbles that is right for your application:

Bubble Bubble Crush Strength (psi) Bubble Density (g/cc) Calculated Foam Density* (lb/cu ft)
K1 250 0.125 38.24
K15 300 0.15 39.02
K20 500 0.20 40.58
K25 750 0.25 42.14
 

*Calculated Density of Syntactic Foam at 50 Volume % Loading, 1.1 g/cc for neat epoxy resin.

Bubble selection for buoyancy applications will also depend on the strength of the resin/bubble composite. This will vary with resin type and formulation. Contact Us for more information.