Amazing Facts
Microballoons
Microballoons are tiny air-filled glass or plastic bubbles, almost too small to see with the naked eye. They are often added to plastic resins to make them lighter, and have a wide variety of industrial applications. One such example is surfboards, which must be light enough to float but also strong enough to withstand the impact of waves and tumbles in the surf. To create a suitable material, microballoons can be mixed with synthetic resins such as epoxies or polyesters. The result is a foam that is mostly air surrounded by hardened resin; it is light and tough, and ideal for surfboards.
In spite of the wide use of microballoons in industry, it is only recently that a conservation application has been found for them. Synthetic resins loaded with microballoons have proved to be ideal fill material for many museum objects. Being flexible and compressible, these materials can easily accommodate the natural movement of wooden objects in response to changes in relative humidity. Also, because they are foamy in nature, they can be carved and painted easily. These materials are therefore useful for the treatment of museum artifacts ranging from sculptures to totem poles to wooden house fronts.
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