Product category:
Materials and components
News Release from: RTP Company | Subject: Scotchlite glass bubbles
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 15 July 2002
Glass bubbles cut compound mass
Custom compounder RTP Company has a range of specialty compounds containing hollow glass microspheres to reduce weight, enhance properties and lower costs in demanding applications.
Custom compounder RTP Company has a range of specialty compounds containing hollow glass microspheres to reduce part weight, enhance properties and lower part costs in demanding applications High loading of these microspheres, called Scotchlite glass bubbles manufactured by 3M, can be added to thermoplastics to reduce overall part weight, and thus per pound material costs
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 23 Oct 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
New range of permanently anti-static compounds
By employing advanced compounding techniques, the new PermaStat Plus materials boost mechanical or electrical properties in various applications that require protection from static build up
Additionally, they can modify polymer characteristics, achieving: lower viscosity, improved flow, and reduced shrinkage and warpage.
For example, polypropylene compounds containing Scotchlite glass bubbles can have their specific gravity reduced by as much as 30%.
The use of glass bubbles also provides more uniform control and reproducibility than other methods typically used for weight reduction, such as foaming agents.
Noncombustible and nonporous, the glass bubbles do not absorb moisture.
They are able to produce stable voids, resulting in low thermal conductivity and low dielectric constants.
Compounds containing Scotchlite glass bubbles are available in most engineering resins and easily adapt to common processing methods, including injection moulding and extrusion.
Applications that use this weight-saving technology exist in the aerospace, automotive, marine, electronic, and medical industries.
(This was Engineeringtalk's Top Story on 12 July 2002).
• RTP Company: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Engineeringtalk email newsletter
• Engineeringtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
