Compression testing of hollow microspheres (microballoons) to obtain mechanical properties

Glass microballoons (GMBs), which are hollow microspheres, were tested to obtain uniaxial compressive properties. Individual GMBs with diameters between approximately 5 and 90 mum were tested in compression using a nanoindentation instrument equipped with a flat ended sapphire tip. GMBs failed at loads ranging from 2.4 to 49.7 mN, and showed a direct relation between diameter and load to failure and between diameter and fracture energy. (C) 2003 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.