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3M™ Glass Bubbles for Thermal Insulation


The high strength and low thermal conductivity (0.06 – 0.2 W·m-1·K-1 at 0°C)* of 3M™ Glass Bubbles make them ideal additives in pipeline and riser insulation. These inert particles are completely compatible with all other components of the insulating system, including polyurethane, polypropylene and epoxy. What's more, 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/ml) Calculated Thermal Conductivity* (W·m-1·K-1)
K46 6000 0.46 0.170
S32 2000 0.32 0.150
S35 3000 0.35 0.155
S38 4000 0.38 0.160
S38HS 5500 0.38 0.160
S38XHS 5500 0.38 0.160

*Calculated Thermal Conductivity of Glass Syntactic Polyurethane (GSPU) Foam at 40 Volume % Loading, assuming a thermal conductivity of 0.19 W·m-1·K-1 for unfilled polyurethane.

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Bubble selection for thermal insulation 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.