Hollow glass microspheres have a high density of about 2.2g/cc for borosilicate glass spheres, 2.5g/cc for soda lime glass spheres, and 4.49g/cc for barium titanate glass spheres. Hollow glass microspheres have densities as low as 0.14 g/cc.Depending on the application requirements, solvents used, desired buoyancy, difference in density between polyethylene and glass microspheres might become a critical factor when selecting the right material.
Hollow glass microspheres have the highest crush strength. Hollow glass microspheres have the lowest crush strength, which varies widely with the grade of material, density, sphere diameter, shell thickness.
Hollow glass microsphere imparts visual and material benefits that cannot be replicated when spheres are made of other materials such as ceramics or polymerics, aluminum oxides, or silicas and mineral fillers. Solid glass refracts, bends and reflects light. Most ceramics do not transmit light or exhibit mirror-like reflection due to their internal crystalline structures and surface irregularities. Instead of being reflected back, the light is “trapped” in the structure and emitted as diffuse or scattered reflectance, which is not as strong or direct as light transmitted through glass, which produces mirror-like reflectance. Hollow glass microsphere can also possess numerous surface and interior micro irregularities that also diffuse light. Because the thickness of a hollow bead’s wall is inversely proportional to its diameter, however, the larger hollow glass microsphere that might offer some reflective properties have very low crush strengths, which precludes their incorporation into most formulations.
Hollow glass microspheres, also called glass beads, provide multiple benefits including enhanced processing, excellent chemical and heat resistance, thermal stability, low oil absorption, and are used in automotive, electrical, household appliance, adhesives, packaging, paint and construction industries. Glass is non-toxic, extremely stable and recyclable. Hollow glass microspheres are inert and are not nanoparticles and therefore do not raise the regulatory and other concerns of sub-micron-size materials.
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