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

Global warming can be defined as a gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth’s atmosphere. A lot of research work has been carried out to reduce that heat inside the residence such as the used of low density products which can reduce the self-weight, foundation size and construction costs.

Foamed concrete it possesses high flow ability, low self-weight, minimal consumption of aggregate, controlled low strength and excellent thermal insulation properties. This study investigate the characteristics of lightweight foamed concrete where Portland cement (OPC) was replaced by hollow glass microsphere at 0%, 3%, 6%, 9% by weight. The density of wet concrete is 1000 kg/m3 were tested with a ratio of 0.55 for all water binder mixture. Lightweight foamed concrete hollow glass microsphere (HGMs) produced were cured by air curing and water curing in tank for 7, 14 and 28 days. A total of 52 concrete cubes of size 100mm × 100mm × 100mm and 215mm × 102.5mm × 65mm were produced.

Furthermore, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) were carried out to study the chemical composition and physical properties of crystalline materials in hollow glass microspheres. The experiments involved in this study are compression strength, water absorption test, density and thermal insulation test.

The results show that the compressive strength of foamed concrete has reached the highest in 3% of hollow glass microsphere with less water absorption and less of thermal insulation. As a conclusion, the quantity of hollow glass microsphere plays an important role in determining the strength and water absorption and also thermal insulation in foamed concrete and 3% hollow glass microspheres as a replacement for Portland cement (OPC) showed an optimum value in this study as it presents a significant effect than other percentage.

Hollow glass microspheres are a free-flowing, oleophilic product that is low in density (0.19g/cm3 ) and small in particle size (75µm, avg). This product is especially suited for use in adhesive applications.

When hollow glass microsphere is added to a “workhorse” epoxy resin system (bisphenol-A, cured with a modified aliphatic amine) at volume levels of 9 and 18%, resin density is reduced substantially, while lap-shear adhesive strength is retained, and in some cases, improved.

Additionally when used to augment the same resin system containing conventional solid fillers (calcium carbonate with fumed silica), hollow glass microspheres impart similar benefits. The data collected in the study illustrate the benefits gained from the use of hollow glass microspheres in the epoxy system.

Benefits include:

• Formulation density reduction, leading to cost savings.

• Maintenance of adhesive performance, potential improvement in bond strength at ambient temperatures and after exposure to elevated temperature stress.

• Viscosity optimization of the formulation, aiding in sag prevention and development of adequate “glue-line”.

Reflective glass beads are widely used in reflective materials such as reflective cloth, reflective coating, reflective webbing, screen printing, reflective hot-melt film, reflective leather, reflective wire, reflective ink, reflective paint high-strength reflective film, etc.

Ingredients: silicon dioxide, barium carbonate, titanium dioxide, etc

Appearance: white, gray reflective sphere reflector

Refractive index: nd ≥ 1.97, nd ≥ 1.93, nd ≥ 2.2

Specification: 120 mesh, 200 mesh, 280 mesh, 325 mesh, 400 mesh, 500 mesh, 600 mesh

Transparency: ≥ 95%

Roundness: ≥ 95%

Features: good corrosion resistance, high temperature resistance, excellent reflective effect,

Density: 4.1g/cm3

Temperature resistance: ≥ 850 ℃

Oil absorption: 28 ± 2.5g/100g

PH value: 6-7

Adding proportion: oil blending 15-30%

Storage method: ventilated, dry and sealed

These types of plastics are made by melt blending that includes Poly PCL which has hollow glass microspheres incorporated inside them. Further, with the added effect of treatments such as silanization on the hollow glass sphere, there is a difference brought in the properties of the silanized sphere vs. the unsilanized sphere. The analysis with silanization reflects that the dissemination of glass particles in the matrix of polymer in every case of a filer which is good, the silanized hollow glass microsphere showed a matrix adhesion.

In terms of its thermal nature, it is shown that the rate of crystallization is significantly enhanced and the stability also is enhanced as compared to a PCL without hollow glass microspheres. By adding the hollow glass sphere the mechanical nature of the product is altered which leads to an increase in the stiffness of the material. The tensile strength especially enhances quite significantly in comparison to untreated PCL. This behaviour observes by the hollow glass microsphere filled composites is the tensile strength is enhanced and with the addition of a silane agent the matrix adhesion is also improved.

Research shows that by incorporating 20% wt. of hollow glass microsphere the density is decreased by about 12% compared to a PCL without microspheres. With plastics the lightweight materials when reduced in density do not lose out on any mechanical properties, it remains intact. Hollow glass microspheres in this regard are one of the most effective and very affordable glass microspheres which have multiple uses.

One of the main goals when designing a part, a tool, and a processing method utilizing hollow glass microspheres is to minimize shear stresses to avoid crushing the spheres. Lack of proper attention to this factor may result in sharply reduced properties in the end product and increased part weight.

A single-screw design for incorporating iM30K microspheres into thermoplastic resins should contain a dispersive mixing element, which typically serves to break up agglomerates of fine particles. Examples of such mixing elements are the classic Maddock mixer (a fluted cylinder) or Saxton mixer (a densely flighted screw with a crosscut through the flights), though many others are available. The screw design should also have a distributive mixing element, which usually involves pin mixing sections.

In single-screw extruders, the iM30K microspheres should be added at a downstream feed port after the resin has been melted, just before the beginning of the metering zone, to minimize potential breakage of the spheres. They are added before the distributive mixing elements, in the middle of the compression section of the screw.

To mold polymers filled with hollow glass microspheres, a general-purpose injection screw is best. Other types of screws—like barrier, double-vane, or vented—are not recommended for processing hollow glass microspheres. The minimum diameter of the screw should be 1.5 in.

When molding with hollow glass microspheres, low backpressure of around 10 to 50 psi should be used. The hollow glass microspheres within the molten resin are apt to break when exposed to excessive injection speed and pressure. The injection speed should be kept low to medium. Unlike with previous microspheres, which limited cavity pressures to 10,000 psi, iM30K spheres can withstand 20,000 psi or more.

A variety of gates can be used, but to retain the hollow glass microspheres’ integrity, minimum gate width should be 0.06 in. As stated earlier, S-7 and H-13 type mold steels are recommended for producing parts filled with hollow glass microspheres.

Colored glass beads have uniform particle size, round particles, rich colors and beautiful colors. Good compatibility with various resins, with good color fastness, acid resistance, chemical solvent resistance, heat resistance, low oil absorption and other characteristics. It is widely used in many kinds of products such as architectural decoration, sewing agents, children’s toys, handicrafts, lighting, etc.

Composites suitable for rotational molding technology based on poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and filled with hollow glass microspheres or functionalized hollow glass microspheres were prepared via melt-compounding. The functionalization of hollow glass microspheres was carried out by a silanization treatment in order to improve the compatibility between the inorganic particles and the polymer matrix and achieve a good dispersion of hollow glass microspheres in the matrix and an enhanced filler–polymer adhesion.

The crystallization behavior of materials was studied by DSC under isothermal and non-isothermal conditions and the nucleating effect of the hollow glass microspheres was proven. In particular, the presence of silanized hollow glass microspheres promoted faster crystallization rates and higher nucleation activity, which are enhanced by 75% and 50%, respectively, comparing neat PCL and the composite filled with 20 wt% hollow glass microsphere.

The crystalline and supermolecular structure of PCL and composites crystallized from the melt was evaluated by WAXD and SAXS, highlighting differences in terms of crystallinity index and structural parameters as a function of the adopted crystallization conditions.

We are spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing a thermometer, from the trusty old mercury thermometer to modern-day digital sensors. Centuries ago, though, measuring the ambient temperature was performed by devices such as the Galileo thermometer.

A Galileo thermometer is a meteorological instrument consisting of a sealed glass tube filled with a clear liquid containing small glass bulbs of varying densities. Ambient temperature changes also alter the liquid’s density, causing different bulbs to rise or fall, which indicates the temperature.

Although this specific thermometer as we know it today wasn’t designed by Galileo himself, all the principles that the thermometer is based upon were discovered and implemented by Galileo Galilei and his thermoscope.

What Is A Galileo Thermometer?
A Galileo thermometer is a meteorological instrument consisting of a sealed glass tube filled with a clear liquid containing small glass bulbs of varying densities. Ambient temperature changes also alter the liquid’s density, causing different bulbs to rise or fall, which indicates the temperature.

Each bubble is partially filled with a different colored liquid. Small metal tags of different weights are also hanged below each bulb to adjust their “density,” while each tag also contains a number.

Any changes in air temperature change the density of the liquid as well. This causes the bubbles inside the liquid to rise and fall in response to changes in the fluid’s density.

By observing the different heights at which the glass bubbles are floating, the temperature can be determined. This is done by identifying the number of the tag below the bubble floating at the “right height.”

If this sounds confusing to you, you are not alone. If I only described to you what a Galileo thermometer looks like and how it responds to temperature changes, it would be difficult to understand what is really happening and why.

One needs to understand the principles and forces at work that make all the parts in this thermometer behave the way they do and how they all work together to help determine the atmospheric temperature.

ARTICLE SOURCE: ownyourweather

Hollow glass microsphere that also known as vitrified small ball is a kind of micron-sized hollow sphere with smooth surface, its main chemical composition is soda lime borosilicate glass, and the natural accumulation state of them is white light inorganic powder. Composition and hollow structure endow the microspheres with unique properties different from other inorganic non-metallic or hollow materials.

In addition to low density, high compressive strength, high temperature or corrosion resistance, low thermal conductivity, nice fluidity and chemical stability, advantages such as non-toxic, odorless, electric insulation, sound-proofing, anti-radiation, self-lubrication and easy surface modification are also showed by hollow glass microspheres.

These characteristics make hollow glass microspheres widely used as additives in many fields, such as water-based lightweight building insulation paint, low-density drilling fluids and cementing slurry, lightweight components in aerospace and vehicles, ship floating block and coatings, electronic components, high molecular composite materials, putty powder, artificial marble, and natural / synthetic products, etc.

Nowadays, hollow glass micropheres composites are also an object of study in additive manufacturing, such as 3D printing, to improve flow melting and thermal insulation. Özbay and Serhatlı studied processing and properties of different combinations of hollow glass microphere filled with polyamide 12 (PA12) matrix, by Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) manufacturing method. As a result, they obtained a 20% of density reduction and a significant rise in the E-modulus with the composition PA12/hollow glass microphere (80/20).

In the automotive industry, the polyamide (PA6) and polyamide 6.6 (PA66) are often used because of their typical hydrogen bonds, due to their polar chemical structure, with a short GF reinforcement, commonly 30 wt%. Composites of PA6 or PA66 reinforced with glass fibers ensure great mechanical and thermal properties and can be found in air intake manifolds, rocker covers, radiator end tanks, fuel rails, electrical connectors, engine encapsulation and others. In this sense, GF and hollow glass microphere combination may constitute an excellent solution to combine lower density, dimensional stability, and good mechanical properties. Berman et al. have studied the effects of replacing calcium carbonate (high density filler) with hollow glass microphere (low density filler) in an unsaturated polyester resin matrix sheet molding compound (SMC) reinforced with short GF (10~15 wt%). The composite was fabricated in SMC manufacturing, lay-up and hot pressing. As a result, they obtained a 12% of density reduction but compromised the mechanical properties. Nevertheless, all values of tensile, flexural and impact properties were higher than the corresponding properties of low and ultra-low-density composites reported in the literature.

Thus, the goal of this study was to fabricate a composite based in PA6 reinforced with GF and hollow glass microphere and to investigate the effects of hollow glass microphere content on the density, mechanical properties of the composites comparing its properties with the traditional PA6/GF (70/30) wt% composite, widely used today in automotive industries. It’s expected to find a formulation with at least 10% density reduction and maintenance of mechanical properties. In this paper, fundamental results for understanding the relationship between structure and property of both the matrix and the fillers will be discussed in terms of microscopic observations, mechanical properties, and thermal stability.