Glass bubble,Hollow glass microspheres , Glass sphere beads, Manufacturer & suppliers

Hollow glass microspheres and glass microspheres are both small, spherical particles made from glass, but they have some significant differences.

Hollow glass microspheres, as their name suggests, are glass spheres that have a hollow interior. They are typically made by heating glass particles and a blowing agent together until the glass softens and expands, forming a hollow sphere. The walls of the sphere are thin and made of glass, and the sphere is lightweight and has a low density. Hollow glass microspheres are often used as a filler material in composites, coatings, and other materials where weight reduction is a critical factor. They can also provide thermal insulation and other properties depending on their size, shape, and composition.

On the other hand, glass microspheres are solid, non-porous glass spheres. They are typically made by melting glass and spraying or dropping the molten glass into a cooling chamber, where it solidifies into spherical particles. Glass microspheres have a smooth surface and a uniform size distribution, making them useful for applications where precise control of particle size is important. They can be used as a filler material, a grinding media, a reflective material, or as a component in optical devices.

In summary, the main difference between hollow glass microspheres and glass microspheres is that hollow glass microspheres have a hollow interior and a low density, while glass microspheres are solid and have a uniform size distribution. The choice between the two will depend on the specific application and the desired properties of the material being produced.

Hollow glass microspheres are tiny, lightweight spheres made of glass that are used in a variety of applications. Due to their unique properties, hollow glass microspheres are being used in many industries such as aerospace, automotive, construction, defense, and energy. Some of the applied-technologies of HGMs are:

Lightweight fillers: hollow glass microspheres are used as a lightweight filler in many materials such as plastics, resins, and composites. By adding HGMs, the weight of the material can be reduced, while maintaining its strength and durability.

Thermal insulation: hollow glass microspheres have a low thermal conductivity, making them an excellent choice for thermal insulation materials. HGMs are used in a variety of insulation products, including spray foams, rigid boards, and blankets.

Buoyancy and flotation: hollow glass microspheres are used in buoyancy and flotation devices, including buoys, life jackets, and floats. HGMs can provide buoyancy while also reducing the weight of the device.

Acoustic insulation: hollow glass microspheres are used as an acoustic insulation material in many applications such as automotive parts, building insulation, and sound barriers. HGMs can absorb sound waves and reduce noise transmission.

Cosmetics: hollow glass microspheres are used in cosmetics and personal care products as a light-scattering agent. HGMs can provide a soft-focus effect, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and give a silky texture to the skin.

Oil and gas drilling: hollow glass microspheres are used in oil and gas drilling fluids to reduce the density of the fluid and increase its flow rate. This can help to improve drilling efficiency and reduce costs.

Hollow glass microspheres are increasingly being used in building materials to promote low-energy sustainability. As a lightweight and thermally insulating material, hollow glass microspheres can be used to reduce the energy required for heating and cooling in buildings, leading to improved energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact.

In building construction, hollow glass microspheres can be incorporated into a range of materials, including concrete, plaster, and insulation. When mixed with these materials, the microspheres provide thermal insulation, reducing the amount of heat transfer through the material. This results in improved energy efficiency, as less energy is required to heat or cool the building.

Additionally, the lightweight nature of hollow glass microspheres means that less material is needed to achieve the same level of strength and performance. This can lead to reduced material costs, as well as reduced transportation and installation costs due to the lighter weight of the materials.

The use of hollow glass microspheres in building materials promotes low-energy sustainability by reducing the environmental impact of building construction and operation. By improving energy efficiency and reducing material usage, hollow glass microspheres can help to create buildings that are more sustainable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly.

Hollow glass microspheres are a type of buoyancy material commonly used in deep sea applications. These microspheres are tiny, hollow glass beads that are extremely lightweight and have excellent buoyancy properties. They are typically made from soda-lime borosilicate glass and have a diameter that ranges from 1 to 300 microns.

In deep sea applications, hollow glass microspheres are often used to create syntactic foam, which is a type of composite material that is designed to have a low density and high buoyancy. The microspheres are mixed with a polymer resin to create a foam that is strong, lightweight, and resistant to water absorption and chemical corrosion.

Syntactic foam made with hollow glass microspheres is often used to create buoyancy modules for underwater equipment, such as sensors, cameras, and instrumentation. The foam provides enough buoyancy to keep the equipment afloat in the water, while also protecting it from the harsh underwater environment.

Overall, hollow glass microspheres are an excellent choice for deep sea buoyancy material due to their lightweight, buoyant properties and resistance to water and chemical corrosion.

Hollow glass microspheres (HGMs) are not generally considered harmful to human health. They are small, lightweight particles made of glass, typically ranging in size from 1 to 100 microns in diameter. HGMs are commonly used as a lightweight filler material in a variety of applications, including paints, coatings, adhesives, and composites.

Several studies have evaluated the potential health effects of exposure to HGMs, and the results have generally been reassuring. The available evidence suggests that HGMs are not likely to cause significant harm to human health when used as intended.

Inhalation is the primary route of exposure to HGMs, and studies have shown that the particles are generally not respirable, meaning they are too large to enter the lungs and cause damage. Some studies have reported minor respiratory effects in animals exposed to high levels of HGMs, but these effects were generally reversible and not considered significant.

There is also no evidence to suggest that HGMs are absorbed into the body through the skin or gastrointestinal tract, as they are inert and do not react with biological tissues.

That being said, like with any material, it is important to handle HGMs safely and in accordance with applicable regulations. Manufacturers of HGMs typically provide guidelines for safe handling, storage, and disposal of their products, and it is important to follow these guidelines to minimize the potential for exposure and ensure safe use.

Hollow glass microspheres can be classified based on various properties such as their size, wall thickness, density, and surface area. Here are some ways to classify hollow glass microspheres:

Size classification: Hollow glass microspheres can be classified based on their diameter. Typically, hollow glass microspheres range in size from 1 to 300 microns. They can be further subdivided into different size ranges, such as fine (<30 microns), medium (30-100 microns), and coarse (>100 microns).

Wall thickness classification: The wall thickness of hollow glass microspheres can also be used to classify them. Hollow glass microspheres typically have wall thicknesses ranging from a few nanometers to a few microns. They can be classified as thin-walled, intermediate-walled, or thick-walled based on their wall thickness.

Density classification: Hollow glass microspheres can also be classified based on their density. Hollow glass microspheres have a lower density than most solid materials, typically ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 g/cm3. They can be classified as low density (0.1-0.4 g/cm3), medium density (0.4-0.7 g/cm3), or high density (0.7-1.0 g/cm3) based on their density.

Surface area classification: Hollow glass microspheres can also be classified based on their surface area. Hollow glass microspheres have a high surface area to volume ratio, making them useful in applications such as catalysis and filtration. They can be classified as low surface area (<1 m2/g), medium surface area (1-10 m2/g), or high surface area (>10 m2/g) based on their surface area.

Application-specific classification: Hollow glass microspheres can also be classified based on their specific applications. For example, hollow glass microspheres can be used in the aerospace industry as lightweight fillers or in the oil and gas industry as drilling fluids. They can be classified based on their suitability for specific applications, such as aerospace, oil and gas, or construction.

High-damping polyurethane hollow glass microspheres are a type of lightweight filler material used in the production of composites. These microspheres are made from hollow glass particles that are coated with a layer of polyurethane material. The resulting material is a lightweight, high-strength filler that can be used to reduce the weight of composite materials without compromising their strength and durability.

One of the key advantages of high-damping polyurethane hollow glass microspheres is their high damping capacity, which allows them to absorb vibrations and impact energy. This makes them particularly useful in applications where shock absorption and impact resistance are important, such as in the aerospace, automotive, and marine industries.

In addition to their high damping capacity, high-damping polyurethane hollow glass microspheres also offer other benefits such as low thermal conductivity, low dielectric constant, and low water absorption. They can also be easily incorporated into a variety of composite materials, including plastics, resins, and rubbers.

Hollow glass beads are small, lightweight, and spherical particles made of glass. They are commonly used in various industrial applications such as coatings, plastics, and composites due to their unique properties such as low thermal conductivity, low density, and good insulation.

The production process of hollow glass beads typically involves the following steps:

1. Glass melting: Raw materials such as silica sand, soda ash, and limestone are melted in a furnace at high temperatures (around 1500°C) to form a glass melt.
2. Glass refining: The glass melt is refined to remove impurities and homogenize the composition.
3. Glass blowing: The glass melt is fed into a blowing machine that blows the molten glass into small hollow bubbles using compressed air. The size of the bubbles can be controlled by adjusting the air pressure.
4. Cooling and solidification: The hollow glass bubbles are then cooled and solidified in a cooling chamber. The cooling process is critical to ensure the beads have a uniform size and shape.
5. Separation and classification: The cooled glass beads are separated from the cooling medium and classified based on their size and density.
6. Surface treatment: The surface of the hollow glass beads can be treated with various coatings or surface modifiers to improve their properties such as adhesion, hydrophobicity, and compatibility with different matrices.
7. Packaging and shipping: The final product is packaged in bags, drums, or bulk containers and shipped to customers.

Overall, the production of hollow glass beads is a complex process that requires precise control of various parameters such as temperature, pressure, and cooling rate to ensure consistent quality and performance.

Hollow glass microspheres (HGMs) are a type of lightweight material that have been studied for their potential application in hydrogen gas storage. Hydrogen has been identified as a promising alternative fuel source, but it is difficult to store due to its low density and high reactivity. HGMs, with their high surface area and low density, have the potential to overcome some of the challenges of hydrogen storage.

Hollow glass microspheres can be used as a support material for metal hydrides, which are compounds that can store hydrogen in a solid state. The hollow glass microspheres provide a high surface area for the metal hydride to adhere to, which increases the storage capacity of the material. The hollow nature of the HGMs also allows for the easy diffusion of hydrogen into and out of the material, which is critical for efficient storage and release of the gas.

Research has shown that hollow glass microspheres can significantly improve the hydrogen storage capacity of metal hydrides. Additionally, HGMs have the advantage of being lightweight and easy to handle, making them attractive for use in portable hydrogen storage applications.

During the process of bilateral cooperation, Lu Jianping said that everyone has never been “red faced”. “Even if we encounter some problems, it is our main line to communicate quickly and clearly, maximize cooperation, minimize disputes, and achieve harmonious development.”

Jingjiang in late spring ushered in another continuous drizzle. Although this is a weekend, Song Guangzhi, who arrived overnight from Beijing, did not come here to enjoy the spring scenery along the Yangtze River. He quickly finished his breakfast and immediately began the day’s work.

Song Guangzhi is a researcher of the Institute of Physical and Chemical Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (hereinafter referred to as the Institute). He and his colleague Zhang Jingjie led the team to put the industrial work of the hollow microsphere project here. In January 2013, the Institute of Physical and Chemical Technology and the local enterprise Jiangsu Huaxing Heavy Industry Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd. jointly established Zhongke Huaxing Jingjiang New Material Engineering Co., Ltd.

The purpose of his trip is to provide on-site technical guidance to the Zhongke Huaxing workshop.

“We both have quite high expectations for the cooperation of this project,” Lu Jianping, General Manager of China Science Huaxing, said in an interview with China Science Daily. “Currently, we are advancing in the expected direction in an orderly manner, and we believe that we will succeed in the future.”

“Love at first sight”

Lu Jianping said that as a business owner, he hopes that the cooperation with scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences will bring not only economic benefits, but also social benefits.

With the support of the national “863” plan, the hollow glass microbeads project developed by the Institute of Physics and Chemistry has independent intellectual property rights. In today’s era of increasing attention to environmental issues, the introduction of environmentally friendly new materials into the market is a positive response made by enterprises and research institutes.

After encountering the hollow glass micro bead project of the Institute of Physics and Chemistry, CSHI is facing the challenge of enterprise transformation and upgrading.

A series of factors, such as the appreciation of the RMB, inflation, rising labor costs, and the international financial crisis, continue to stimulate the nerves of domestic small and medium-sized enterprises, affecting the development of some small and medium-sized enterprises to a large extent. Many enterprises are facing unprecedented difficulties and challenges in their production and operation.

Although Huaxing Heavy Industry is not here yet, it hopes to take precautions. “Therefore, transformation and upgrading have been put on our agenda,” Lu Jianping admitted. This time, he will lead the team to take the path of “innovation main body”.

In 2012, a trip to Beijing for scriptures became a transfer. At that time, the Jingjiang Science and Technology Bureau led a team and led dozens of Jingjiang enterprises to investigate projects at several research institutes of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

After arriving at the Institute of Physics and Chemistry, a leader of the Jingjiang Science and Technology Bureau discovered that the entrepreneur around him, Lu Jianping, had “disappeared.”. It turned out that he had a crush on the hollow micro bead project of Song Guangzhi and Zhang Jingjie at a glance, and had already started the industrialization discussion together with scientific researchers.

“We are grafting advanced technology from the Chinese Academy of Sciences at a high level, aiming to create an energy-saving and environmentally friendly building material industrialization base, and seeking a breakthrough in self transformation,” he said.

Small beads with high energy
Therefore, through the Jingjiang Municipal Bureau of Science and Technology, Huaxing Heavy Industry and the Institute of Physics and Chemistry were engaged in a marriage. “This has also become one of the key factors that our cooperation can achieve,” Lu Jianping said.
Under a high-power electron microscope, high-performance hollow glass microspheres appear to be crystal clear hollow glass beads. Due to this unique structure at a very small scale, hollow glass beads have become a new type of lightweight material with extensive uses and excellent performance that has been developed in recent years.
Song Guangzhi and Zhang Jingjie have developed advanced preparation techniques for hollow glass microspheres over the past decades. In December 2006, the technical achievement of “surface modification of hollow glass beads” passed the appraisal jointly organized by relevant departments and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Since then, with the continuous support of projects such as the National “863” Plan, the Institute of Physics and Chemistry has continuously deepened its research on hollow glass microspheres, optimized its preparation technology and production process, and continuously improved its product performance.
The research results of hollow glass microspheres have been gradually improved, laying a solid foundation for industrialization. For China Science and Technology Huaxing, the purpose of industrialization is very clear. “We have conducted multiple surveys and tests to determine the main development route of environmentally friendly building materials,” Lu Jianping said.
Although any new product needs to undergo a period of testing to enter the market, he is confident: “Currently, there are not many environmentally friendly building materials on the market, which is a great opportunity for us to enter the market.”
Lu Jianping said that currently, partners have used and tested Zhongke Huaxing’s products, and customers are very excited about Zhongke Huaxing’s products.
“Two sets of thinking” do not exist
During the process of bilateral cooperation, Lu Jianping said that everyone has never been “red faced”. “After we encounter some issues, we quickly communicate clearly to maximize cooperation and minimize disputes. Harmonious development is our main line.”
Lu Jianping disagrees with the statement that scientists and entrepreneurs have “two sets of thinking modes” and hinder the cooperation between scientific research institutions and enterprises: “because what we pursue in cooperation is win-win.” It is true that the thinking of scientific researchers is more inclined to the progressiveness of achievements; The thinking of enterprises is more biased towards cost control. “But there is no conflict between the two. The progressiveness nature of the results does not mean that the cost is increased or uncontrollable. On the contrary, it can promote production process innovation and achieve the effect of reducing costs.” Lu Jianping said.
On the other hand, Zhongke Huaxing’s business thinking is not blindly pursuing profit maximization. “We have a long-term strategic plan, and maintaining the progressiveness of scientific research achievements is the constant purpose in our enterprise development plan.” He said.
In the cooperation, the Institute of Physics and Chemistry and China Science and Technology Huaxing understand each other and learn from each other’s strengths to complement each other. What the enterprise possesses is business strategy and practical experience, while what the scientific research institutions possess is the basic conditions for conducting research work, advanced technology, and scientific logical thinking methods. The combination of the two will greatly contribute to the long-term development of both sides.

ARTICLE SOURCE: China Science Daily