Spheriglass® Solid Glass Microspheres Reduce Manufacturing Costs And Offer Greatly Improved Physical Properties
Valley Forge, PA < (January 12, 2006). Potters Industries has just
completed a study of the benefits of using engineered glass microsphere
particles. According to William Shaker, Market Development Manager of
Polymer Additives at Potters Industries, "One of the major benefits of
adding solid glass spheres to resin formulations is reduced manufacturing
costs. With resin prices soaring, processors are looking to additives as a
way to contain rising costs. By using SPHERIGLASS solid glass microspheres
as resin extenders, they can realize substantial cost savings while gaining
enhanced physical properties."
SPHERIGLASS glass spheres are performance modifiers engineered to
increase the strength of plastics. High loadings of glass spheres add
significantly to the dimensional stability of the finished product by
reducing shrinkage and improving part flatness. "For example," says Shaker,
"data show that shrinkage of unfilled or glass fiber filled nylon 66 can be
cut by 70-80% when 30% glass spheres are used. And warpage is reduced
95-97% in the same tests." High loadings can also increase flexural modulus,
abrasion resistance, and surface hardness. Additional benefits include
excellent chemical resistance, increased compound flow, and improved
compressive strength.
Used in thermoplastic and thermosetting resin systems, SPHERIGLASS glass
microspheres offer processing benefits by increasing the flow during
extrusion and injection molding. Microspheres lower the viscosity of most
compounded resin systems, acting as miniature ball bearings to improve flow.
"Because flow is improved, very large and thin walled parts can be molded to
dimensions," explains Shaker. "The spherical shape also yields better
stress distribution. This is important since localized stress within a
molded part often leads to premature failure as well as warpage in the
finished part."
In contrast to other additives such as fiber glass which have inherent
properties that limit their use in certain applications, SPHERIGLASS
non-fibrous glass spheres help engineers confront the problems of
maintaining dimensional stability, easing plastic flow and lowering molding
pressures. "The cost of glass spheres is less than half that of glass
fibers, making them one of the most economical glass products available,"
adds Shaker.
SPHERIGLASS solid glass spheres have a density of 2.5 g/cc. They are
very strong, with a crush strength of 30,000 psi. Moh¹s hardness is 6.0 -
6.5. Glass spheres have very low oil absorption, about 18g oil/100g
spheres. And, because the spheres are nonporous, they do not absorb resin
in a polymer system. They are available in two glass compositions: A-glass
(soda-lime glass) and E-glass (borosilicate glass).
Potters Industries, a wholly owned subsidiary of PQ Corporation is the
world¹s leading manufacturer of engineered glass materials serving the
highway safety, polymer additive, metal finishing, and conductive particle
markets.
PQ Corporation recently acquired by JPMorgan Partners, is a leading
producer of silicate, zeolite, and other performance materials serving the
detergent, pulp and paper, chemical, petroleum, catalyst, water treatment,
construction, and beverage markets. It is a global enterprise, operating in
19 countries on five continents.
For more information on the properties and performance advantages of
SPHERIGLASS® solid glass microspheres, please call 610-651-4715 or visit the
Potters Industries website at www.pottersbeads.com.
