1. A METHOD OF FORMING GLASS BEADS COMPRISING (A) MELTING A GLASS BATCH IN A FURNACE TO FORM A GLASS MELT HAVING A VISCOSITY LESS THAN 100 POISES, (B) CONDUCTING THE GLASS MELT TO A NOZZLE AREA IN SAID FURNACE, (C) FORCIBLY DISCHARGING THE GLASS MELT THROUGH A SMALLDIAMETER ORFICE HAVING A DIAMETER OF 0.002 TO 0.125 INCH IN SAID NOZZLE UNDER A PRESSURE OF 1 TO 20 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH TO FORM A GLASS JET, (D) DIRECTING THE GLASS JET OUTWARDLY FROM SAID ORIFICE WHEREBY THE GLASS JET BREAKS APART INTO PARTICLES DUE SOLELY TO FLOW INSTABILITIES OF THE GLASS JET, AND SAID PARTICLES, UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF SURFACE TENSION, FORM GLASS BEADS HAVING A DIAMETER OF APPROXIMATELY TWICE THAT OF SAID ORIFICE, AND (E) COOLING SAID GLASS BEADS TO ROOM TEMPERATURE.

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