3M Glass Bubblesfor Design & Construction
3M™ Glass Bubbles for density reduction, solar reflectivity and more.
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For Paints and Coatings
From single family homes to large industrial plants, paints and coatings are the first line of protection for the buildings that shelter our businesses and lives. And weathering the elements year after year – while keeping down initial and long-term costs – requires the right materials.
3M Glass Bubbles provide a high performance, cost-effective alternative to conventional fillers in a variety of paints and specialty coatings. These hollow glass microspheres are used as density-reducing and anti-mould paint additives, helping lower formulation weight and viscosity. They can contribute to a variety of functional benefits ranging from scratch resistance to solar reflectivity. Available in a wide range of strengths, densities and particle sizes, 3M Glass Bubbles can help you meet the performance and processing demands of your application.
Contact us for more information, including formulation assistance or questions about a specific application.
- Acrylic and industrial latex paints
- Solar reflective paint for roof coatings
- Epoxy coatings
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For Construction
In construction, 3M Glass Bubbles used as an additive help create building materials that are versatile, lightweight, and easy to work with. Their low density makes them a great paint filler for walls, enabling higher filler loading, as well as a lower cost per volume compared to many conventional fillers. 3M Glass Bubbles are a highly effective anti-condensation paint additive, and can also help improve sandability and reduce shrinkage and warpage in spackling compounds, wood composites and other materials – helping you reduce rework.
They withstand the high temperatures and stresses of processing conditions such as liquid phase polymer processing, high viscosity melt compounding and high-pressure injection moulding.
- Spackling, caulks, adhesives
- Potting compounds
- Preformed concrete
- Engineered wood
View our brochure about 3M Glass Bubbles in construction material formulations (PDF, 4.2 MB) to help you identify the grade of hollow glass microsphere with the optimal balance of properties for your formulation.
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Boost performance
The high strength, low density and unique physical properties of 3M Glass Bubbles make them perfect as fillers for walls. They provide a number of advantages compared to paints and coatings formulated with conventional, irregularly-shaped fillers.
- Improved abrasion resistance (depending on product grade)
- Reduced thermal expansion and shrinkage
- Uniform spherical shapes help improve flow that can then provide for a more efficient process and easier application
- Higher volume loading and weight reduction
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Help save energy
Cool isn't just a matter of comfort. Effective solar management – or the lack of it – can have a significant impact on your bottom line. Testing shows that solar reflective paint for roof coatings formulated with 3M Glass Bubbles can offer a number of performance and cost benefits compared to typical "cool roof" coatings.
- Higher total solar reflectance
- Higher thermal emissivity (ability to give up heat)
- Lower inside temperatures
- Lower cooling costs
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Resources for Design & Construction Advanced Materials
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Brochures, case studies and white papers
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The science of a cosy winterRead Full Case Study (PDF, 449 KB)Protecting the aesthetics of a historic building in MallorcaRead Full Case Study (PDF, 587 KB)An external paint formulated to reduce energy use and repel dirtRead Full Case Study (PDF, 415 KB)A mix and match paint system to drive energy efficiencyRead Full Case Study (PDF, 635 KB)Whitepaper: Renovation WaveRead Full Case Study (PDF, 895 KB)3M™ Ceramic Microspheres in paints and coatings formulationsRead Full Case Study (PDF, 7.9 MB)Solar heat reflection in waterborne acrylic elastomeric roof coatings
- Technical Papers
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Glass Bubble Survival During Twin Screw CompoundingDownload (PDF, 576 KB)“Plug-N-Play” Weight Reduction Solution by Hollow Glass MicrospheresDownload (PDF, 882 KB)Benefits & Processing Behavior of Glass Bubbles in Polymer Wood CompositesDownload (PDF, 397 KB)The use of 3M™ Glass Bubbles to increase condensation timeDownload (PDF, 667 KB)Expanding the use of spherical fillers in low-VOC coatings applicationsDownload (PDF, 4.7 MB)Functional fillers for matting and performance enhancements
- Handling Information
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3M™ Glass Bubbles Bag Unloading SuggestionsDownload (PDF, 216 KB)3M™ Glass Bubbles Metering and Mixing GuideDownload (PDF, 323 KB)3M™ Glass Bubbles Box Unloading Instructions
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