Glassbead

Glass bead is a small glass sphere used in a variety of decorative and industrial applications. Beads can be solid or hollow and typically range in diameter from about 0.1 to 2 millimeters. They are produced in many colors and finishes by adding metal oxides or coatings, and hollow varieties are lighter and often used as fillers.

Most glass beads are made from soda-lime glass, though borosilicate and lead glass are used for specialized products. They are formed by allowing molten glass to form droplets that cool and solidify into spheres; bead size is controlled by nozzle size, dwell time, and cooling rate. Recycled glass may be used as a raw material. Hollow beads are created by incorporating air during formation or by producing a void within the bead and sealing it.

Applications span both adornment and industry. In jewelry and crafts, glass beads are used for decoration, mosaics, and beadwork. In industry, glass bead media are employed for abrasive blasting and peening, offering a non-metallic, relatively gentle finishing option that can produce a bright, uniform surface. In road safety, glass microbeads are embedded in paints and coatings to provide retroreflectivity, improving nighttime visibility. In paints and composites, beads can serve as fillers or to adjust density, gloss, and texture; hollow beads reduce overall weight.

Safety and environmental considerations include the inert nature of glass, though handling dust can pose a silica exposure risk. Proper PPE and dust control are advised. Waste disposal generally follows standard guidelines for glass materials.