In today's world, sustainability and efficiency are paramount. Increasingly, industry seeks out innovative materials that combine performance with environmental responsibility. Potters SPHERIGLASS® is a prime example of such a material. These glass microspheres, which are made from 100% recycled glass, offer a unique blend of practical benefits and eco-friendly characteristics.
What is SPHERIGLASS®?
Potter's SPHERIGLASS® is a high-quality, engineered glass product consisting of solid glass microspheres. These solid glass spheres range in size from 2 to 850 microns. As a performance additive for thermoplastic and thermosetting resin systems, SPHERIGLASS® allows plastic manufacturers to significantly increase the share of a compound made from recycled glass.
SPHERIGLASS® is smooth, hard and offers excellent chemical resistance and low oil absorption. The glass microspheres can reduce reject rates in production across many industries, including: transportation, automotive, chemical, electronic, industrial, and engineering.
Potters Industries is one of the world’s leading suppliers of glass spheres. Potters' Research and Development Laboratory provide applications, engineering and technical assistance. Manufactured from recycled glass, SPHERIGLASS® exemplifies the potential of circular economy principles in industrial materials. You can turn to SPHERIGLASS® from Potters Industries when you need a product that increases dimension stability, surface hardness and scratch resistance, stress distribution, flexural modulus and allows for very high filler loadings.
Advantages of SPHERIGLASS® glass microspheres
Potters glass microspheres are versatile
SPHERIGLASS® brings value to a wide range of industries, including:
- Plastics
- Adhesives
- Construction materials
- Automotive parts
- Paints and coatings
The spherical shape provides stability, reducing shrinkage and warping
Successful manufacturing requires production to meet exact specifications. By adding stability to finished products, glass microspheres reduce shrinkage and warping.
Additionally, the spherical shape of these glass beads allows ideal stress distribution. Glass spheres create a regular and predictable stress pattern when mixed into epoxy resins, unlike fibres or irregular particles. The improved stress distribution in turn enables high loading levels.
Spheres are non-directional, unlike fibres. This creates a more uniform shrinkage rate during manufacturing, and results in more predictable manufacturing quality.
High resin displacement allows very high filler loadings
Due to their roundness, SPHERIGLASS® spheres disperse evenly and pack closely. They distribute throughout a compound in such a way as to permit very high filler loadings. High loadings can increase flexural modulus, increase surface hardness and improve stress distribution. In turn, this creates better molded parts in the finished product.
Glass microspheres improve end-product performance
SPHERIGLASS® can improve the efficiency and longevity of products. For instance, it enhances the durability of paints and coatings, potentially reducing the frequency of repainting and the associated environmental impacts. Additionally, these glass microspheres create harder and tougher surfaces, and improve abrasion and scratch resistance.
Potters SPHERIGLASS® also improves flow properties. Potters glass beads specifications are such that they can act as miniature ball bearings. This effect lowers the viscosity of most resin mix systems and improves flow.
Potters glass microspheres provide enhanced safety
Unlike many filler products, SPHERIGLASS® contains no crystalline silica, enhancing safety for manufacturing workers and end-product users. They are chemically inert and meet the Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) standard.
Potters SPHERIGLASS® recycling process makes it the sustainable choice
Potters glass microspheres are an ideal choice for businesses looking to build more sustainable manufacturing processes. The beads also allow customers to fulfil requirements for recycled glass in their products.
SPHERIGLASS® diverts more than 500.000 tons of recycled glass from landfills annually. This not only conserves landfill space but also prevents the potential environmental hazards associated with glass waste.
The recycling process
Potters Industries uses glass waste from various sources to create SPHERIGLASS®. These include manufacturing facilities, recycling centres, and so forth.
First, the collected glass is sorted based on colour and type (e.g. clear, green, amber) to ensure that the recycling process is efficient and effective. Potters then crushes, melts and forms the molten glass into uniform microspheres. Finally, the cooled glass microspheres undergo rigorous quality control checks to ensure that they meet industry standards.
Choose Potters SPHERIGLASS®
Potter's SPHERIGLASS®, Microperl and Omicron represents a remarkable fusion of recycling technology, material science, and industrial innovation. Its production process and lifecycle embody the principles of sustainable manufacturing and circular economy.
This versatile solution demonstrates that environmental responsibility and industrial performance are not mutually exclusive. By choosing such materials, industries can not only improve their products but also contribute to a more sustainable world.
Potters glass beads specification information
The unique properties of Potters glass microspheres give their users technical and economic advantages. The following Potters glass beads specification tables shows the range of types available to fit manufacturers’ needs.
General product information
| Product | Particle Size Distribution* | Bulk Density (lbs/cu. ft.) ASTM D-3101-78 | Oil Absorption (g oil/100g spheres) ASTM D-1483 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Value (microns) | Range (microns) | US Mesh Size | Untapped | Tapped | ||
| A-GLASS 1922 | - | 150 - 250 | 60 - 100 | 91 | 98 | 18 |
| A-GLASS 2024 | - | 106 - 212 | 70 - 140 | 91 | 98 | 18 |
| A-GLASS 2429 | 70 - 100 | 53 - 106 | 140 - 270 | 91 | 98 | 18 |
| A-GLASS 2530 | 60 - 70 | 45 - 90 | 170 - 325 | 91 | 98 | 18 |
| A-GLASS 3000 | 30 - 50 | - | - 325 | 90 | 99 | 18 |
| A-GLASS 5000 | 7 - 10 | - | - | 80 | 101 | 20 |
| E-GLASS 3000E | 30 - 50 | - | - 325 | 82 | 100 | 19 |
*Typical Values
Properties of A and B Glass
| Typical Values | A-GLASS Soda-Lime | E-GLASS Boro-Silicate |
|---|---|---|
| Physical: | ||
| Specific Gravity | 2.5 | 2.54 |
| Refractive Index | 1.51 | 1.55 |
| Free Iron Content, % max | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Mechanical: | ||
| Young's Modulus, 106 psi | 10.0 | 10.5 |
| Rigidity Modulus, 106 psi | 4.3 | |
| Hardness (Moh) | 6.0 | 6.5 |
| Coefficient of Friction | 0.9-1.0 | 1.0 |
| Electrical: | ||
| Dielectric Constant, 22°C, 106 Hz | 6.9 | 5.8 |
| Loss Tangent, 22°C, 106 Hz | 0.0085 | 0.0010 |
| Vol. Resistivity, 25°C, ohm-cm | 6.5 x 1012 | 1013-1016 |
| Thermal: | ||
| Softening Point, °C | 704 | 846 |
| Expansion Coefficient, in/in/°C x 107 | 90 | 28 |
| Thermal Conductivity (cal/(sec)(cm²)(°C/cm) at 500°C) | 0.0036 | |
| Composition %: | ||
| SiO2 | 72.5 | 52.5 |
| Na2O | 13.7 | 0.3 |
| CaO | 9.8 | 22.5 |
| MgO | 3.3 | 4.2 |
| Al2O3 | 0.4 | 14.5 |
| FeO/Fe2O3 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| K2O | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| B2O3 | 0.0 | 8.6 |
| Hydrolytic Leach Resistance**: | ||
| Leachate pH | 9.4 | 8.5 |
| Leach Conductivity, (mmho/em) | 101.0 | 45.0 |
| Leach Concentrations, (mg/cc) | ||
| Total Alkali | 25.7 | 3.6 |
| Calcium | 18.1 | 20.4 |
| Boron | Trace | 18.7 |
| Silica | 5.4 | 1.1 |
* No measurable free crystalline silica content as tested by ASTM C-169
** One hour boil under reflux with deionized water
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the process benefits of microspheres?
- Lower shrinkage and warpage
- Lowest surface to volume ratio + Ball bearing effect
- High loading capacity
- Uniform dispersion
What are the product benefits of microspheres?
- Improved surface hardness and scratch resistance
- Higher flexural modulus
- Improved stress distribution
- Excellent chemical resistance
How to remember glass spheres?
