Under High Pressure: Spherical Glass Flotation and Instrument Housings in Deep Ocean Research

All stationary and autonomous instrumentation for observational activities in ocean research have two things in common, they need pressure-resistant housings and buoyancy to bring instruments safely back to the surface. The use of glass spheres is attractive in many ways. Glass qualities such as the immense strength-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and low cost make glass spheres ideal for both flotation and instrument housing. On the other hand, glass is brittle and hence subject to damage from impact. The production of glass spheres therefore requires high-quality raw material, advanced manufacturing technology and expertise in processing. VITROVEX (R) spheres made of DURAN (R) borosilicate glass 3.3 are the only commercially available 17-inch glass spheres with operational ratings to full ocean trench depth. They provide a low-cost option for specialized flotation and instrument housings.