Hollow Glass Spheres Research Articles

Bubble plume effects on the flotation kinetics of nonmetallic inclusions based on experimental observations

AbstractSteelmaking has shown an increasing concern toward nonmetallic inclusions, leading to new technologies in the secondary metallurgy of steel. Although the typical inclusion removal procedure is by injecting inert gas into the ladle, this vessel does not fulfill all the requirements to accept a porous structure tailored to produce “clean steels.” Consequently, the spotlight has moved to the tundish, the last vessel before solidification, in which gas injection can continuously operate. Therefore, this work focuses on understanding the influence of typical gas flow rates (10–60 NL/min) on the kinetics of inclusion flotation, considering two bubble diameters (0.6 and 1.1 mm). For this purpose, experimental measurements were conducted in a water model, where glass hollow spheres played the role of inclusions, and their concentration was fitted by an exponential decay. In general, injecting bubbles into the system contributed positively to a faster and greater flotation of particles. The smaller bubbles led to a higher maximum efficiency, whereas the larger ones allowed a shorter time scale (i.e., a faster removal), defining a trade‐off to tune the bubble size. Regarding the gas flow rate, the results indicate an optimum range to decrease the time scale, and suggestions for bubble curtains in tundishes are drawn.

Hierarchical porous ceramics constructed by interlocked alumina platelets with hollow glass spheres as pore formers

Hierarchical porous alumina ceramics were prepared through hydratable alumina gel-casting method. The matrices were constructed by interlocked alumina platelets. Hollow glass spheres as pore formers participated in the fluorine-catalyzed structure formation process. The samples with 20 wt% hollow spheres added (1000–1300 °C) had volume densities, apparent porosities, linear shrinkages and compression strengths of 0.59–0.90 g/cm3, 81.68 %∼74.20 %, 1.40 %∼14.07 % and 12.64–23.36 MPa, respectively. Changing the fraction of hollow spheres (10–30 wt%, 1100 °C) had effects on tailoring the compression strengths (3.13–13.40 MPa), without apparently affecting the densities (0.58–0.60 g/cm3)/porosities (79.70 %∼82.28 %)/shrinkages (1.47 %∼1.93 %). The pore size distributions demonstrated the interlocking pores built by alumina platelets, the pores that inherited from the gel network, and the large pores provided by hollow spheres. The reheated (1300 °C) samples presented good structure stability with shrinkages of 6.60 %∼18.57 %. The synthesized ceramics with both high porosities and satisfactory strengths could meet the requirements of high temperature gas/liquid filtration or catalyst supporting, etc.

Preliminary Investigation on Mechanical Properties of Hollow Glass Spheres

Hollow glass microspheres (HGM) have been employed in a wide range of applications such as thermal insulating coatings for construction and transportation applications and for acoustic insulation coatings. As such, it is expected for the HGM to exhibit an extremely high pressure tolerance in order to endure the harsh environment. In this present study, an effort has been made to investigate the mechanical properties of hollow glass microsphere. The glass sphere with diameters between 5-30 µm, 50-90 µm and 90-125 µm were used for this investigation. This study's objectives are to investigate the strength of HGM and gain an in-depth understanding of the mechanical characteristics of the sintered spheres.

Preparation of Melamine Formaldehyde Foam and a Melamine-Formaldehyde-Organo-Clay Nanocomposite and Hybrid Composites

Mineral fillers can be added to thermoset polymers to improve thermal conductivity and deformation behavior, shrinkage, impact strength, dimensional stability and molding cycle time. This study aims to prepare various hybrid composites (MFHCs) using melamine formaldehyde foam (MF), a melamine formaldehyde organo-clay nanocomposite (MFNC) and also pumice as primary filler, and gypsum, kaolinite and a hollow glass sphere as secondary filler. It also focuses on the study of some mechanical properties and thermal conductivities, as well as their microscopic and spectroscopic characterization. For this, firstly, organo-clay was prepared with the solution intercalation method using montmorillonite, a cationic surfactant and long-chain hydrocarbon material, and then was produced using a melamine formaldehyde nanocomposite with in situ synthesis using a melamine formaldehyde pre-polymer and organo-clay. Finally, hybrid composites were prepared by blending various minerals and the produced nanocomposite. For morphological and textural characterization, both FTIR spectroscopy and XRD spectra, as well as SEM and HRTEM images of the raw montmorillonite (MMT), organo-montmorillonite (OMMT), pure polymer (MF) and prepared hybrid composites, were used. Spectroscopic and microscopic analyses have shown that materials with different textural arrangements and properties are obtained depending on effective adhesion interactions between polymer–clay nanocomposite particles and filler grains. Mechanical and thermal conductivity test results showed that melamine-formaldehyde-organo-clay nanocomposite foam (MFCNC) exhibited a very good thermal insulation performance despite its weak mechanical strength (λ: 0.0640 W/m K). On the other hand, among hybrid composites, it has been determined that the hybrid composite containing hollow glass beads (MFCPHHC) is a material with superior properties in terms of thermal insulation and mechanical strength (λ: 0.642 W/m K, bulk density: 0.36 g/cm3, bending strength: 228.41 Mpa, modulus of elasticity: 2.22 Mpa and screw holding resistance: 3.59 N/mm2).

Atomization of Borosilicate Glass Melts for the Fabrication of Hollow Glass Microspheres

Direct atomization of a free-flowing glass melt was carried out using a high-speed flame with the aim of producing tiny, self-expanding glass melt droplets to form hollow glass microspheres. Atomization experiments were carried out using a specially adapted free-fall atomizer in combination with a high-power gas burner to achieve sufficient temperatures to atomize the melt droplets and to directly expand them into hollow glass spheres. In addition, numerical simulations were carried out to investigate non-measurable parameters such as hot gas velocities and temperatures in the flame region by the finite volume-based software Star CCM+® (v. 2022.1.1), using the Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) turbulence and the segregated flow model. To calculate the combustion process, the laminar flamelet method was used. The experiments and simulations indicated that a maximum gas velocity of about 170 m/s was achieved at the point of atomization in the flame. The particle size distribution of the atomized glass droplets, either solid or hollow, ranged from 2 µm to 4 mm. Mean particle sizes in the range of 370 µm to 650 µm were highly dependent on process parameters such as gas velocity. They were in good agreement with theoretically calculated median diameters. The formation of hollow glass microspheres with the proposed concept could be demonstrated. However, only a small fraction of hollow glass spheres was found to be formed. These hollow spheres had diameters up to 50 µm and, as expected, a thin wall thickness.

Flow Development and Entrainment in Turbulent Particle‐Laden Jets

AbstractExplosive eruptions expel volcanic gases and particles at high pressures and velocities. Within this multiphase fluid, small ash particles affect the flow dynamics, impacting mixing, entrainment, turbulence, and aggregation. To examine the role of turbulent particle behavior, we conducted an analogue experiment using a particle‐laden jet. We used compressed air as the carrier fluid, considering turbulent conditions at Reynolds numbers from approximately 5,000 to 20,000. Two different particles were examined: 14‐μm diameter solid nickel spheres and 13‐μm diameter hollow glass spheres. These resulted in Stokes numbers between 1 and 35 based on the convective scale. The particle mass percentage in the mixture is varied from 0.3% to more than 20%. Based on a 1‐D volcanic plume model, these Stokes numbers and mass loadings corresponded to millimeter‐scale particle diameters at heights of 4–8 km above the vent during large, sustained eruptions. Through particle image velocimetry, we measured the mean flow behavior and the turbulence statistics in the near‐exit region, primarily focusing on the dispersed phase. We show that the flow behavior is dominated by the particle inertia, with high Stokes numbers reducing the entrainment by more than 40%. When applied to volcanic plumes, these results suggest that high‐density particles can greatly increase the probability of column collapse.

Durability and Thermal Behavior of Functional Paints Formulated with Recycled-Glass Hollow Microspheres of Different Size.

This study aims to assess the effect of hollow glass microspheres of different sizes derived from glass industry waste on the durability and thermal behavior of waterborne paint. The coatings were characterized by electron microscopy to investigate the distribution of the spheres and their influence on the layer morphology. The impact of the various glassy spheres on the mechanical feature of the coatings was assessed using the Buchholz hardness test and the Scrub abrasion test. The role of the spheres in altering the durability of the samples was analyzed by the salt spray exposure test and the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements. Finally, a specific accelerated degradation test was carried out to explore the evolution of the thermal behavior of the composite coatings. Ultimately, this work revealed the pros and cons of using hollow glass spheres as a multifunctional paint filler, highlighting the size of the spheres as a key parameter. For example, spheres with adequate size (25-44 µm), totally embedded in the polymeric matrix, are able to reduce the thermal conductivity of the coating avoiding local heat accumulation phenomena.

Synthesis and Characterization of Al Chip-Based Syntactic Foam Containing Glass Hollow Spheres Fabricated by a Semi-Solid Process

In this study, aluminum (Al) chip matrix-based synthetic foams were fabricated by hot pressing at a semi-solid (SS) temperature. The densities of the foams ranged from 2.3 to 2.63 g/cm3, confirming that the density decreased with increasing glass hollow sphere (GHS) content. These values were approximately 16% lower than the densities of Al chip alloys without GHS. The Al chip syntactic foam microstructure fabricated by the semi-solid process comprised GHS uniformly distributed around the Al chip matrix and a spherical microstructure surrounded by the Mg2Si phase in the interior. The resulting spherical microstructure contributed significantly to the improvement of mechanical properties. Mechanical characterization confirmed that the Al chip syntactic foam exhibited a compressive strength of approximately 225-288 MPa and an energy absorption capacity of 46-47 MJ/M3. These results indicate higher compressive properties than typical Al syntactic foam. The Al chip microstructure, consisting of the Mg2Si phase and GHS, acted as a load-bearing element during compression, significantly contributing to the compressive properties of the foam. An analysis was performed using an energy-dispersive spectrometer to validate the interfacial reaction between the GHS and the matrix. The results showed that MgAl2O4 was uniformly coated around GHS, which contributed not only to the strength of the matrix, but also to the mechanical properties via the appropriate interfacial reactive coating.

Production and processing of polymer composite materials with hollow glass spheres and various types of dispersed structures

The paper presents data on the effect of the type of structure and processing method (rolling and extrusion) on the density of particulate-filled polymer composite materials (DFPCM) and the destruction of hollow glass spheres in a low-density polyethylene matrix.To obtain light DNPCM, we recommend using PSMS with a density of 0.30 g/cm3 (MS-VP-A9(4) with the SNS-1 structure type and the Θ parameter from 0.50 to 0.60 vol. use a twin-screw extruder The density of particulate-filled composite materials in this case is 0.72-0.75 g/cm3, and the weight reduction is ~ 18-21% relative to the original LDPE.

Tailorable thermoplastic insulation foam composites enabled by porous-shell hollow glass spheres and expandable thermoplastic microspheres

We report a simple and commercially viable strategy to produce thermoplastic composite foams using synergistic foaming approaches – incorporating porous-shell hollow-interior glass spheres (PHGS) as a filler and utilizing expandable thermoplastic microspheres (EMS) as a physical blowing agent – for thermal insulation applications. The EMS in these composites ensure formation of highly porous, low-density foam while the PHGSs provide low thermal conductivity and lightweight mechanical reinforcement. Through systematic optimization of the PHGS and EMS loadings, a lightweight, and robust insulation with thermal resistivity greater than 27.7 m·K/W (R/in. > 4) is achieved. Notably, the fabricated foams also demonstrated comparable compressive strength than some commercial thermoplastic insulating materials. Through optimization of PHGS and EMS concentrations, results indicated similar thermal performance characteristics at varying foam densities, while higher loadings of both components lead to reduced insulation performance and weak mechanical stability of the foams. The results obtained, when coupled with the potential scalability and tailor ability of the overall process towards targeted insulation performance, not only endows competitiveness with current commercial thermoplastic insulating materials but also offers great promise for the development of unique thermoplastic composite foams for a variety of insulation systems.

High‐strength ceramic foams with ultralow dielectric constant and loss in terahertz frequency region

AbstractSixth generation (6G) wireless networks operating in terahertz frequency region are significant solutions to the increasing number of telecommunication devices and the demand for faster data transmission. However, few dielectric materials exhibiting an ultralow relative dielectric constant (εr), loss tangent (tanδ), and high mechanical strength are found suited for 6G telecommunication. In this study, we developed lightweight ceramic foams by directly sintering glass hollow spheres. The effects of sintering temperatures on their mechanical performance, and terahertz optical and dielectric properties were systematically investigated. The final compositions of ceramic foams contain glass, cristobalite, quartz, and wollastonite. The crystalline content increases with increasing sintering temperature. The ceramic foams sintered at low temperatures of 700–850°C exhibit a high porosity ranging from 74.6% to 87.3%, ultralow εr ranging from 1.41 to 1.83, and tanδ of ∼0.011 at 0.5 THz, as well as high compressive strength ranging from 10.1 to 27.4 MPa, which could be promising materials for 6G telecommunication.

Lightweight polyester composites via nanoreinforced syntactic foams

Syntactic foams and their reinforcement with cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) in a thermosetting polyester resin (PR) matrix were studied in order to provide a pathway for lightweight composites for automotive applications with enhanced performance including thermomechanical properties and water uptake. A novel method for coating hollow glass spheres (HGS) with CNC was developed. Various combinations of functionalized CNC and surface modified HGS were studied to determine interactions between the two materials. Surface analysis techniques indicated that CNC were successfully deposited onto the HGS surface and remained at the surface after compounding with PR. Dynamic mechanical analysis of composites samples indicated a 30% increase in high temperature storage modulus between CNC coated HGS samples and uncoated HGS samples. Shifts in tan(δ) peak intensity and beta-relaxation temperature also indicated an increase in interphase volume around CNC coated HGS as compared to uncoated HGS samples. Coating HGS with CNC reduced the maximum water adsorption by as much as 40% indicating the potential for this material system in high moisture environments.

Effect of the Layer Thicknesses on Surface Hardness of Oak Parquets Painted with Water Based Paint Mixed with Hollow Glass Spheres

Aim of study: Determination of the effect of different layer thicknesses on the surface hardness value of the water based paint mixed with hollow glass spheres (WBPHGS) applied to oak parquets. Material and method: Two, four and six layers of WBPHGS and additionally one layer protective varnish were applied to the surfaces of parquet specimens produced from oak (Quercus petraea L.) wood. WBPHGS was preferred by reason of the fact that it does not harm environment and human health, and also it has not become widespread on usage of wood surfaces. The surface hardness resistance tests of WBPHGS were performed according to the ASTM D 2240 standard. Results: The mean surface hardness values of oak parquet decreased as the layer thicknesses increased. Highlights: To determine the applicability of WBPHGS which is widely used in the construction and machinery sectors to the surfaces of oak parquet and the surface hardness values of this paint.

Pump Up the Jam: Granular Media as a Quasi-Hydraulic Fluid for Independent Control Over Isometric and Isotonic Actuation.

Elastomer‐granule composites have been used to switch between soft and stiff states by applying negative pressure differentials that cause the membrane to squeeze the internal grains, inducing dilation and jamming. Applications of this phenomenon have ranged from universal gripping to adaptive mobility. Previously, the combination of this jamming phenomenon with the ability to transport grains across multiple soft actuators for shape morphing has not yet been demonstrated. In this paper, the authors demonstrate the use of hollow glass spheres as granular media that functions as a jammable “quasi‐hydraulic” fluid in a fluidic elastomeric actuator that better mimics a key featur of animal musculature: independent control over i) isotonic actuation for motion; and ii) isometric actuation for stiffening without shape change. To best implement the quasi‐hydraulic fluid, the authors design and build a fluidic device. Leveraging this combination of physical properties creates a new option for fluidic actuation that allows higher specific stiffness actuators using lower volumetric flow rates in addition to independent control over shape and stiffness. These features are showcased in a robotic catcher's mitt by stiffening the fluid in the glove's open configuration for catching, unjamming the media, then pumping additional fluid to the mitt to inflate and grasp.

Mineral Composite Plaster Containing Hollow Glass Microspheres and CSA Cement for Building Insulation

Renovation of old buildings plays a key role in the sustainable energy transition because they are often poorly insulated and, therefore, lose a lot of heat through walls and ceilings. An important measure of renovation is façade insulation. Established and widely used materials include rigid expanded polystyrene (EPS) and extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation boards. However, these boards do not easily follow the form of non-planar surfaces such as individually formed, ornamented, or bent façades. Furthermore, fire protection of these boards requires the addition of, for example, hazardous brominated flame retardants that impede recycling. This paper investigates a novel alternative insulating composite plaster. It is purely inorganic and can be applied easily by casting or wet spraying to any wall or ceiling element. The composite material consists of only two components: micro hollow glass microspheres as the insulating light component and calcium sulfoaluminate cement as the binder. Various compositions containing these components were cast, hydraulically set, and characterized with respect to microstructure, phase development during hydration, and thermal conductivity. With an increasing amount of hollow glass spheres, the density decreased to less than 0.2 g·cm−1, and the thermal conductivity reached 0.04 to 0.05 W·m−1K−1, fulfilling the demands of building insulation.

The coupled model of transient non-equilibrium interphase mass transfer rate of sliding bubble and two-phase flow in variable gradient drilling

The aim of this research is to investigate the influence of key parameters of variable gradient drilling by injecting hollow-glass spheres (Referred to as HGS, it is a low-density and micron-sized hollow glass sphere) on the interphase mass transfer rate of the surface boundary layer of the sliding bubble in the annulus and the flow law of the two-phase flow in the wellbore after the gas intrusion occurred. Firstly, the key parameters of variable-gradient drilling, such as HGS volume fraction, HGS density, the depth of the filter separator, were coupled with the model of non-equilibrium interphase mass transfer rate and the mathematical model of two-phase flow to establish a new two-phase flow model of transient non-equilibrium interphase mass transfer for variable-gradient drilling. Secondly, the existing classic model and measured data were used for comparative analysis with the model in this paper, and then the accuracy of the model in this paper was verified. Thirdly, based on the on-site data, the numerical calculations and sensitivity analysis were carried out using the model in this paper. Finally, a comparative analysis of the interphase mass transfer rate was performed under equilibrium and non-equilibrium conditions. In addition, the influence on non-equilibrium interphase mass transfer rate of surface boundary layer of the bubble, bottom hole pressure, overflow rate and overflow rate exerted by different separator positions, HGS volume fraction, HGS density, and pumping rate was studied. The results indicated that the interphase mass transfer rate under the non-equilibrium condition was lower than that under the equilibrium condition when the both were at the same well depth or at the same circulation time. The interphase mass transfer rate enhanced with the increase of pumping rate, the depth of filter separator and HGS density, but decreased with the increase of HGS volume fraction. The bottom-hole pressure was negatively correlated with the depth of the filter separator and the volume fraction of HGS, on the contrary, it was positively correlated with the HGS density. Similarly, the gas void fraction, overflow rate and overflow were positively correlated with the depth of filter separator and HGS volume fraction, but negatively correlated with the HGS density. This research can provide a certain theoretical reference for variable gradient drilling.

Light-weight carbon fiber/silver-coated hollow glass spheres/epoxy composites as highly effective electromagnetic interference shielding material

Highly effective electromagnetic interference shielding materials with light-weight feature are urgently demanded for releasing electromagnetic pollution. In this study, the hollow glass spheres were coated with silver particles to produce electrically conductive microspheres. The Carbon fiber/silver-coated hollow glass spheres (Ag@HGMs)/epoxy composites were manufactured by composites liquid molding process. The electromagnetic interference shielding properties of the composites were investigated in the X-band (8.2–12.4 GHz) range. The Ag@HGMs play a role in filling up the vacancy of the conductive network of carbon fibers in the composites, which not only form new conductive pathways but also act as bridges to connect CFs and provide additional channels for the electron transfer within the composites thus improving the electrical conductivity. The total shielding effectiveness (SET) increases with increasing Ag@HGMs loadings and the maximum SET is high as 88.1 dB. The increased SET dominated by absorption loss SEA is attributed to the high conductivity and multilayer construction of carbon fiber veil. The maximum specific SE of the carbon fiber/Ag@HGMs/epoxy composites can achieve 128.8 dB cm3/g, simultaneously the tensile strength and modulus can reach 95.6 MPa and 2.71 GPa, which provides a facile and promising strategy for designing and developing light-weight and high performance electromagnetic interference shielding materials.

Prediction and analysis of annular pressure caused by temperature effect for HP/HT/HHS and water production gas wells in Sichuan Basin

For the “three-high” gas wells in Sichuan Basin which are often regulated for production rate and shut-in for maintenance, annular pressure by temperature effect is a kind of wellbore safety threat that cannot be ignored. In this work, the wellbore temperature and pressure calculation model of gas–liquid two-phase flow with non-hydrocarbon correction and the prediction model of annular pressure by temperature effect is developed. Moreover, the judgment chart of annular pressure type is established through a large number of simulation calculations with different gas production rates and water production rates. Example calculation shows that whether water production and non-hydrocarbon components are considered in the prediction model has a non-negligible influence on calculation results. The predicted annular pressure is compared with that obtained from the actual measurement showing a good agreement. Meanwhile, the judgment chart realizes the valid determination of annular pressure type for three “three-high” gas wells in Sichuan Basin. Influential factors analysis indicates that reducing the thermal expansion coefficient of annulus fluid, adding the hollow glass spheres or injecting highly compressible protective liquid into the annulus and installing compressible foam material on the inner wall of casing are effective methods to control the annular pressure by temperature effect. To reserve partial annulus space can effectively reduce the annular pressure by temperature effect. For most of “three-high” gas wells in Sichuan Basin, the optimum height of annulus air cavity is 100 m.

Facile fabrication of hollow mesoporous bioactive glass spheres: From structural behaviour to in vitro biology evaluation

Bone defects accompanied by infection or inflammation can significantly delay the healing process. To simultaneously achieve controlled release of local antibiotics for infection control and bone healing, bone-implantable delivery systems have been considered as a promising strategy. This study aims to improve drug loading capacity of bone-implantable delivery systems by introducing hollow structure mesoporous bioactive glass nanospheres (HMBGs) through a sol–gel process. Particularly, such core–shell bimodal-porous structured nanoparticles were prepared through a sacrificing template using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as surfactant. It was found that varying the amount of CTAB during the synthesis process is a simple and effective approach for tuning the particle size, morphology, and structure of HMBGs. For in vitro drug release, HMBGs could sustain storage and release of vancomycin hydrochloride (VAN) via diffusion-controlled mechanism, thereby inhibiting the bacteria growth in the subsequent bacterial study. Moreover, HMBGs incorporated with VAN provided a biomimetic microenvironment favored by cell adhesion and proliferation. These findings support the compatibility of HMBG nanoparticles with antibiotics and their potential application in the treatment of infectious bone defects.

The effect of mesocarbon microbeads on magnetorheological fluid behavior

Magnetorheological (MR) fluids are composed of magnetizeable particles suspended in a carrier fluid and change apparent viscosity upon the application of a magnetic field. Previous studies have shown that passive particles, such as hollow glass spheres, can augment the yield stress of MR fluids, but this yield stress augmentation has limited endurance because the hollow glass microspheres are not sufficiently durable. This study evaluates mesocarbon microbeads (MCMBs) as an alternative passive particle with the potential for MR yield force augmentation but with greater durability. The yield properties of six MR fluid concentrations with varying carbonyl iron particle (CIP) and MCMB volume fractions were tested using a shear mode rheometer and flow mode MR damper. MCMBs did not augment yield stress in shear mode, but, in contrast, in flow mode, the yield force increased nonlinearly with MCMB volume fraction. Furthermore, this yield force-enhancing effect did not diminish over 100,000 cycles (or 5 km of piston travel). The theoretical non-dimensional plug thickness which arises from an approximate parallel plate analysis of a fluid element in flow mode is used illustrate to a potential mechanism for the yield force augmentation effect.