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Mining Markets
Mining Markets

3M™ Glass bubbles incorporated into emulsion formulations as a sensitizing agent can improve blast efficiency and reliability. A broad range of densities and strengths are available to match a wide range of slurry and emulsion requirements.

Surfactants are materials that can reduce the surface tension of a liquid at relatively low concentrations. 3M surfactants are commonly used as wetting agents, demisters, foaming agents and de-emulsifiers.

3M™ Glass Bubbles are widely used as sensitizers in explosive applications as they provide stable, strong, pre-manufactured voids that contribute to higher velocity of detonation (VOD) and consistent detonation performance. These low density glass bubbles also help propagate the detonation wave enabling the reaction to continue.

3M™ Glass Bubbles also find extensive use in Industrial Explosives and is the density modifier of choice in bulk emulsion, packaged emulsion, water gel and slurry explosives.

3M™ Glass Bubbles enables explosive manufacturers to obtain an immediate increase in velocity of detonation (VOD). The excellent fragmentation provided by high VOD has benefits like:
  • Reduced secondary blasting
  • Reduced energy consumption
  • Improved productivity - more tons per hour processed
  • Lower cost per ton of rock moved
3M Products for the Mining Markets
Glass Bubbles Novec™ Fluorosurfactants