3M™ Glass Bubbles A16/500

3M™ Glass Bubbles A16/500 is engineered hollow glass microspheres that are alternatives to conventional fillers and additives such as silicas, calcium carbonate, talc, clay, etc., for many demanding applications. These low density particles are used in a wide range of industries to reduce part weight, lower costs and enhance product properties. The spherical shape of 3M™ Glass Bubbles A16/500 offers a number of important benefits, including: higher filler loading, lower viscosity/improved flow, and reduced shrinkage and warpage. It also helps the 3M™ Glass Bubbles A16/500 blend readily into compounds, and makes them adaptable to a variety of production processes, including spraying, casting and molding. In addition, they offer greater survivability under demanding processing conditions, such as injection molding, and also produce stable voids, which results in low thermal conductivity and a low dielectric constant. The chemically stable soda-lime-borosilicate glass composition of 3M™ Glass Bubbles A16/500 provides excellent water resistance, to create more stable emulsions. They are also non-combustible and non-porous, so they do not absorb resin. And, their low alkalinity gives 3M™ Glass Bubbles A16/500 compatibility with most resins, stable viscosity and long shelf life.

Principal: 3M Advanced Materials

Functions: Filler, Filler

Chemical Family: Borosilicates

Processing Methods: Casting, Injection Molding, Molding, Spraying

End Uses: Aerospace Syntactic Foam, Aerospace Syntactic Foam, Hydrospace Syntactic Foam, Hydrospace Syntactic Foam, Printed Wire Boards, Radomes

Features: Cost Effective, High Filler Loading, Improved Flow, Light Weight, Long Shelf Life, Low Alkalinity, Low Thermal Conductivity, Low Viscosity, Low Warpage, Minimize Shrinkage, Viscosity Stability, Water Resistance

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Enhanced TDS

Identification & Functionality

Blend
No
Chemical Family
Chemical Name
Function
Filler
Industrial Additives Functions
Plastics & Elastomers Functions
Product Code
MITM00003
Single Ingredient
Yes
Synonyms
Glass, oxide, chemicals, Oxide glass chemicals, Glass Fiber
Technologies
Product Families

Features & Benefits

Applications & Uses

Properties

Physical Form

Safety & Health

Safety Precautions
  • Dusting that may occur while handling and processing can be minimized by the following procedures:
    • For eye protection wear chemical safety goggles. For respiratory system protection wear an appropriate NIOSH/MSHA-approved respirator. 
    • Use appropriate ventilation in the work area
    • Pneumatic conveyor systems have been used successfully to transport 3M™ Glass Bubbles A16/500 without dusting from shipping containers to batch mixing equipment. Static eliminators should be used to help prevent static charges.
  • Diaphragm pumps have been used to successfully convey 3M™ Glass Bubbles A16/500. Vendors should be consulted for specific recommendations.
  • 3M™ Glass Bubbles A16/500 breakage may occur if the product is improperly processed. To minimize breakage, avoid high shear processes such as high-speed Cowles™ Dissolvers, point contact shear such as gear pumps or 3-roll mills, and processing pressures above the strength test pressure for each product.

Packaging & Availability

Packaging Type
Product Packaging
  • Mini-Box
    • A single corrugated box with a plastic liner.
    • Box dimensions are 16 in. × 16 in. × 20 in.
  • Small Box (10 Cubic ft.)
    • A single corrugated box with a plastic liner. All boxes are banded together and to the wooden pallet. 4 boxes per pallet.
    • Box dimensions are 22 in. × 19 in. × 39 in.
    • Pallet size is 42 in. × 48 in.
  • Box Weights
  • Mini-Box-10 lb.
  • Small Box-50 lb.

Storage & Handling

Storage and Shelf Life Information
  • To help ensure ease of storage and handling while maintaining free flowing properties, 3M™ Glass Bubbles A16/500 have been made from a chemically stable glass and are packaged in a heavy duty polyethylene bag within a cardboard container. Minimum storage conditions should be unopened cartons in an unheated warehouse. Under high humidity conditions with the ambient temperature cycling over a wide range, moisture can be drawn into the bag as the temperature drops and the air contracts. The result may be moisture condensation within the bag. Extended exposure to these conditions may result in “caking” of the 3M™ Glass Bubbles A16/500 to various degrees.
  • To minimize the potential for “caking” and prolong the storage life, the following suggestions are made:
    • Carefully re-tie open bags after use.
    • If the polyethylene bag is punctured during shipping or handling, use this bag as soon as possible, patch the hole, or insert the contents into an undamaged bag.
    • During hot and humid months, store in the driest, coolest space available.
    • If controlled storage conditions are unavailable, carry a minimum inventory, and process on a first in/first out basis.

Other

Alkalinity
max. 0.3 meq/g
Appearance
White to the unaided eye
Color (SDS)
White
Density
0.14-0.18 g/cm³
Density (SDS)
0.1-0.6 g/cm³
Dielectric Constant
1.3-1.5
Isostatic Crush Strength
500.0 psi
Item Number
Odor (SDS)
Odorless
Oil Absorption
31.0-36.0 g/100cm³
Particle Size
30.0 µm
Particle Size
60.0 µm
Particle Size
95.0 µm
Particle Size
115.0 µm
Particle Size
420.0 µm
Principal
Sieve Fractionation (Retained)
max. 5.0 %(W/W)
Softening Point (SDS)
min. 600.0 °C
Specific Gravity (SDS)
0.1-0.6
Thermal Conductivity
0.06-0.16 W/m·K
Thermal Stability
min. 600.0 °C
Volatile Content
max. 0.5 %(W/W)
Volatile Content (SDS)
max. 0.5 %(W/W)
pH
9.1-9.9
Thermal Properties
ValueUnitsTest Method / Conditions
Thermal Conductivity0.06-0.16 W/m·KW/m·KAt 20°C
Thermal Stabilitymin. 600.0 °C°C
Chemical Properties
ValueUnitsTest Method / Conditions
Alkalinitymax. 0.3 meq/gmeq/g
pH9.1-9.9-
Electrical Properties
ValueUnitsTest Method / Conditions
Dielectric Constant1.3-1.5-at 100 MHz
Mechanical Properties
ValueUnitsTest Method / Conditions
Isostatic Crush Strength500.0 psipsiASTM D3102 Nitrogen Isostatic Crush Strength, 80% Minimum Fractional Survival, 90% Target Fractional Survival, in glycerol
Physical Properties
ValueUnitsTest Method / Conditions
Density0.14-0.18 g/cm³g/cm³
Oil Absorption31.0-36.0 g/100cm³g/100cm³ASTM D1483
Particle Size30.0 µmµm10th%
Particle Size60.0 µmµmat 50% solution
Particle Size95.0 µmµmat 90%
Particle Size115.0 µmµmat 95%
Particle Size420.0 µmµm
Sieve Fractionation (Retained)max. 5.0 %(W/W)%(W/W)using a 10 g sample on a U.S. number 80 standard sieve 177 microns
Material Composition
ValueUnitsTest Method / Conditions
Volatile Contentmax. 0.5 %(W/W)%(W/W)
SDS Physical and Chemical Properties
ValueUnitsTest Method / Conditions
Density (SDS)0.1-0.6 g/cm³g/cm³
Softening Point (SDS)min. 600.0 °C°C
Specific Gravity (SDS)0.1-0.6-
Volatile Content (SDS)max. 0.5 %(W/W)%(W/W)