3M™ Glass Bubbles D32/4500

3M™ Glass Bubbles D32/4500 is engineered hollow glass microspheres that are alternatives to conventional fillers and additives such as silicas, calcium carbonate, tale, 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 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 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 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 compatibility with most resins, stable viscosity and long shelf life. 3M™ Glass Bubbles D32/4500 offer the same combination of strength and light weight as standard 3M glass bubbles, with an added surface treatment of special coupling agents, for use in high- tech applications such as aerospace and hydrospace syntactic foam, radomes and printed wire boards. They are available in a variety of sizes and grades for various product and processing requirements.

Principal: 3M Advanced Materials

Functions: Filler, Filler

Chemical Family: Borosilicates

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

Processing Methods: Casting, Injection Molding, Molding, Spraying

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
MITM00007
Single Ingredient
Yes
Synonyms
Glass, oxide, chemicals, Oxide glass chemicals, Glass Fiber
Technologies
Product Families

Features & Benefits

Applications & Uses

Industrial Additives End Use
Plastics & Elastomers End Uses
Plastics & Elastomers Processing Methods
Markets
Applications
Surface Treatment

3M™ Glass Bubbles D32/4500 have methacrylato chromic chloride surface treatment.

Properties

Physical Form
Key Properties

Conductivity:

  • Conductivity increases with temperature and product density.
  • The thermal conductivity of a composite will depend on the matrix material and volume loading of 3M™ Glass Bubbles D32/4500.

Stability:

  • Appreciable changes in bubble properties may occur above 1112°F (600℃) depending on temperature and duration of exposure.

pH:

  • Because 3M™ Glass Bubbles D32/4500 is a dry powder, pH is not defined.
  • The pH effect will be determined by the alkalinity as indicated above.
  • When 3M™ Glass Bubbles D32/4500 is mixed with deionized water at 5 volume percent loading, the resulting pH of the slurry is typically 9.1 to 9.9, as measured by a pH meter.

Dielectric Constant:

  • The dielectric constant of a composite will depend on the matrix material and volume loading of 3M™ Glass Bubbles D32/4500.

Hard Particles:

  • No hard particles (e.g., glass slag, flow agent, etc.) greater than U.S. number 40 (420 microns) standard sieve will exist.

Sieve Analysis:

  • Using a 10 gram sample on a U.S. number 200 sieve (74 microns), a maximum of three percent by weight glass bubbles will be retained on the sieve.

Flowability:

  • 3M™ Glass Bubbles D32/4500 remain free flowing for at least one year from the date of manufacture if stored in the original, unopened container in the minimum storage conditions of an unheated warehouse.
Chemical Resistance
  • The chemical properties of 3M™ Glass Bubbles D32/4500 resemble those of a soda-lime-borosilicate glass.

Packaging & Availability

Packaging Type
Product Packaging

Mini-Box: 

  • A single corrugated box with a plastic liner.
  • Box dimensions are 16 in. × 16 in.×20in.

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. x 48 in.

Box Weights:

  • Mini Box: 10 lb
  • Small Box: 100 lb

Storage & Handling

Storage Conditions
  • To help ensure ease of storage and handling while maintaining free flowing properties, 3M™ Glass Bubbles D32/4500 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 D32/4500 to various degrees.

To minimize the potential for "caking" and prolong the storage life, the following suggestions are made:

  1. Carefully re-tie open bags after use.
  2. 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.
  3. During hot and humid months, store in the driest, coolest space available.
  4. If controlled storage conditions are unavailable, carry a minimum inventory, and process on a first in/first out basis.

Dusting that may occur while handling and processing can be minimized by the following procedures:

  1. For eye protection wear chemical safety goggles.
  2. Use appropriate ventilation in the work area.
  3. Pneumatic conveyor systems have been used successfully to transport 3M™ Glass Bubbles D32/4500 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 D32/4500.
  • Vendors should be consulted for specific recommendations.

3M™ Glass Bubbles D32/4500 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.

Other

Alkalinity
max. 0.3 meq/g
Appearance
White to the unaided eye
Color (SDS)
White
Density
0.3-0.34 g/cm³
Density (SDS)
0.1-0.6 g/cm³
Dielectric Constant
1.3-1.5
Isostatic Crush Strength
4500.0 psi
Item Number
Odor (SDS)
Odorless
Oil Absorption
31.0-36.0 g/100cm³
Particle Size
20.0 µm
Particle Size
40.0 µm
Particle Size
65.0 µm
Particle Size
80.0 µm
Principal
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. 1112.0 °F
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 68°F
Thermal Stabilitymin. 1112.0 °F°F
Chemical Properties
ValueUnitsTest Method / Conditions
Alkalinitymax. 0.3 meq/gmeq/g
pH9.1-9.9-pH Meter
Electrical Properties
ValueUnitsTest Method / Conditions
Dielectric Constant1.3-1.5-at 100 MHz
Mechanical Properties
ValueUnitsTest Method / Conditions
Isostatic Crush Strength4500.0 psipsiNitrogen Isostatic Crush Strength, 80% Minimum Fractional Survival, 90% Target Fractional Survival
Physical Properties
ValueUnitsTest Method / Conditions
Density0.3-0.34 g/cm³g/cm³
Oil Absorption31.0-36.0 g/100cm³g/100cm³ASTM D1483
Particle Size20.0 µmµm10th%
Particle Size40.0 µmµmat 50% solution
Particle Size65.0 µmµmat 90%
Particle Size80.0 µmµmat 95%
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)