公开(公告)号：EP0080078A3

公开(公告)日：1983-09-07

申请号：EP82110062

申请日：1979-08-17

申请人： TOROBIN, Leonard B.

发明人： TOROBIN, Leonard B.

IPC分类号： C03B19/10 ,  F24J03/02 ,  C08J09/32 ,  B29C17/07 ,  B29D03/00

CPC分类号： B01D67/0072 ,  B01D69/00 ,  B01D71/02 ,  B01D2323/08 ,  B01J13/04 ,  B01J13/22 ,  B01J20/28 ,  B01J35/08 ,  B22F1/0051 ,  B22F9/082 ,  B22F2009/088 ,  B29C49/0042 ,  B29C49/46 ,  B29C70/58 ,  B29C2049/4605 ,  B29C2049/4608 ,  B29C2049/465 ,  B29C2049/4655 ,  B29C2049/4664 ,  B29K2105/165 ,  B63B3/13 ,  C03B19/10 ,  C03B19/1075 ,  C03B37/022 ,  C03B37/04 ,  C03B37/06 ,  C03B37/0756 ,  C03B2203/16 ,  C03C17/09 ,  C04B14/24 ,  C04B14/34 ,  C04B20/1055 ,  C04B38/08 ,  C08J9/32 ,  F16L59/065 ,  F16L59/08 ,  F24S80/525 ,  F24S80/60 ,  G11C11/06 ,  G21B1/19 ,  H01F1/066 ,  H01F1/1535 ,  H01F1/15358 ,  Y02E10/40 ,  Y02E30/16

摘要： Hollow glass microspheres (62) made from a low heat conductivity glass composition containing a high vacuum and a thin metal coating (63) deposited on the inner wall surface of the microspheres are described. The hollow glass microspheres are used to make superior insulation materials in the construction of highly efficient solar energy collectors. The hollow glass microspheres can also be made to contain a thin transparent or reflective metal coating deposited on the inner wall surface of the microspheres by adding to the blowing gas small dispersed metal particles and/or gases of organo-metal compounds and decomposing the organo-metal compounds. The hollow glass microspheres can be made from low heat conductivity glass compositions. The microspheres can be used to make improved insulation materials and composites and insulating systems, and panels (61). The hollow glass microspheres can be used as filler materials in plastics, in plastic foam compositions and in concrete and asphalt compositions. The hollow glass microspheres can also be made in the form of filamented glass microspheres with a thin glass filament connecting adjacent glass microsphere.

公开(公告)号：EP0190286A1

公开(公告)日：1986-08-13

申请号：EP85904045.0

申请日：1985-08-08

申请人： TOROBIN, Leonard B.

发明人： TOROBIN, Leonard B.

IPC分类号： B01J2 ,  B01J13 ,  B01J20 ,  B01J35 ,  B22F1 ,  B29B9 ,  B29C49 ,  B29C67 ,  B32B5 ,  C03B19 ,  C03B37 ,  C03C11 ,  C03C17 ,  C04B14 ,  C04B18 ,  C04B20 ,  C04B38 ,  C04B41 ,  C08J3 ,  C08J9 ,  E21B43 ,  F16L59 ,  F24J2

CPC分类号： B01J20/28 ,  B01J13/04 ,  B01J20/28021 ,  B01J35/08 ,  B22F1/0051 ,  B29C49/0005 ,  B29C49/0042 ,  B29C49/46 ,  B29C70/58 ,  B29C2049/4605 ,  B29C2049/465 ,  B29C2049/4655 ,  B29C2049/4664 ,  C03B19/1075 ,  C03B19/1085 ,  C03B37/022 ,  C03B37/04 ,  C03B37/0756 ,  C03B2203/16 ,  C03C11/002 ,  C03C17/09 ,  C04B14/24 ,  C04B18/027 ,  C04B20/1055 ,  C04B38/08 ,  C04B41/4584 ,  C08J9/32 ,  E21B43/267 ,  F24S80/525 ,  F24S80/60 ,  Y02E10/40 ,  Y10S521/919 ,  Y10T428/2984 ,  Y10T428/2989

摘要： Hollow microspheres are made by a process which comprises forming a film of a dispersed particle film-forming composition (containing dispersed particles, a binder, a film stabilizing agent and a continuous liquid phase) across a coaxial blowing nozzle, applying a blowing gas at a positive pressure on the inner surface of the dispersed particle composition film to blow the film and form, in the region of the coaxial blowing nozzle orifice, hollow dispersed particle microspheres having stable film walls, removing the hollow microspheres, treating them to bring dispersed particles into point to point contact and harden them to obtain hollow green microspheres, and subsequently subjecting them to a sufficiently high temperature for a sufficient period of time to remove the continuous liquid phase and to sinter the dispersed particles at their points of contact to form within the walls of said hollow microspheres interconnecting voids that are continuous from the outer wall surface to the inner wall surface of the hollow microspheres, and to obtain hollow porous microspheres having substantially uniform void content and substantially uniform distribution of the voids in their walls.

摘要翻译： 中空微球通过包括形成分散颗粒电影形成用组合物（含有分散颗粒，粘合剂，膜稳定剂和连续液相）穿过同轴吹嘴，在施加吹入气体的膜的方法制得 分散颗粒组合物电影吹薄膜和形式，在同轴吹嘴孔的区域的内表面上的正压力，具有稳定的膜壁，移除所述空心微球，处理它们中空分散颗粒的微球，使分散粒子成 点对点接触并硬化他们获得中空烧结的微球，并随后使它们经受足够高的温度下的足够的一段时间以除去连续液相和在其接触点烧结分散颗粒形成的壁内 互联孔隙的所述空心微球确实是从外壁表面的连续 空心微球的内壁面，并获得具有基本均匀的空隙含量和在它们的壁中的空隙的基本上均匀分布的中空多孔微球。

公开(公告)号：EP0080078A2

公开(公告)日：1983-06-01

申请号：EP82110062.5

申请日：1979-08-17

申请人： TOROBIN, Leonard B.

发明人： TOROBIN, Leonard B.

IPC分类号： C03B19/10 ,  B29C67/00 ,  F24J2/28 ,  C08J9/32

CPC分类号： B01D67/0072 ,  B01D69/00 ,  B01D71/02 ,  B01D2323/08 ,  B01J13/04 ,  B01J13/22 ,  B01J20/28 ,  B01J35/08 ,  B22F1/0051 ,  B22F9/082 ,  B22F2009/088 ,  B29C49/0042 ,  B29C49/46 ,  B29C70/58 ,  B29C2049/4605 ,  B29C2049/4608 ,  B29C2049/465 ,  B29C2049/4655 ,  B29C2049/4664 ,  B29K2105/165 ,  B63B3/13 ,  C03B19/10 ,  C03B19/1075 ,  C03B37/022 ,  C03B37/04 ,  C03B37/06 ,  C03B37/0756 ,  C03B2203/16 ,  C03C17/09 ,  C04B14/24 ,  C04B14/34 ,  C04B20/1055 ,  C04B38/08 ,  C08J9/32 ,  F16L59/065 ,  F16L59/08 ,  F24S80/525 ,  F24S80/60 ,  G11C11/06 ,  G21B1/19 ,  H01F1/066 ,  H01F1/1535 ,  H01F1/15358 ,  Y02E10/40 ,  Y02E30/16

摘要： Hollow glass microspheres (62) made from a low heat conductivity glass composition containing a high vacuum and a thin metal coating (63) deposited on the inner wall surface of the microspheres are described. The hollow glass microspheres are used to make superior insulation materials in the construction of highly efficient solar energy collectors.
The hollow glass microspheres can also be made to contain a thin transparent or reflective metal coating deposited on the inner wall surface of the microspheres by adding to the blowing gas small dispersed metal particles and/or gases of organo-metal compounds and decomposing the organo-metal compounds.
The hollow glass microspheres can be made from low heat conductivity glass compositions. The microspheres can be used to make improved insulation materials and composites and insulating systems, and panels (61).
The hollow glass microspheres can be used as filler materials in plastics, in plastic foam compositions and in concrete and asphalt compositions.
The hollow glass microspheres can also be made in the form of filamented glass microspheres with a thin glass filament connecting adjacent glass microsphere.

摘要翻译： 描述由包含高真空的低热导率玻璃组合物和沉积在微球的内壁表面上的薄金属涂层（63）制成的中空玻璃微球（62）。 中空玻璃微球用于制造高效太阳能收集器的绝缘材料。 中空玻璃微球也可以制成含有沉积在微球的内壁表面上的薄的透明或反射金属涂层，通过向发泡气体中加入小分散的金属颗粒和/或有机金属化合物的气体并分解有机 - 金属化合物。 中空玻璃微球可由低导热性玻璃组合物制成。 微球可用于改进绝缘材料和复合材料，绝缘体系和面板（61）。 中空玻璃微球可用作塑料，塑料泡沫组合物和混凝土和沥青组合物中的填料。 中空玻璃微球体也可以用连接相邻玻璃微球的薄玻璃丝的丝状玻璃微球的形式制成。

公开(公告)号：EP0226738A1

公开(公告)日：1987-07-01

申请号：EP86114167.9

申请日：1979-08-17

申请人： TOROBIN, Leonard B.

发明人： TOROBIN, Leonard B.

IPC分类号： C03B19/10 ,  C04B14/02 ,  C03B37/02 ,  F24J2/00 ,  C08J9/32 ,  B29C67/00 ,  C03B19/06 ,  E04B1/78 ,  B01J13/02 ,  E04B1/80

CPC分类号： B01D67/0072 ,  B01D69/00 ,  B01D71/02 ,  B01D2323/08 ,  B01J13/04 ,  B01J13/22 ,  B01J20/28 ,  B01J35/08 ,  B22F1/0051 ,  B22F9/082 ,  B22F2009/088 ,  B29C49/0042 ,  B29C49/46 ,  B29C70/58 ,  B29C2049/4605 ,  B29C2049/4608 ,  B29C2049/465 ,  B29C2049/4655 ,  B29C2049/4664 ,  B29K2105/165 ,  B63B3/13 ,  C03B19/10 ,  C03B19/1075 ,  C03B37/022 ,  C03B37/04 ,  C03B37/06 ,  C03B37/0756 ,  C03B2203/16 ,  C03C17/09 ,  C04B14/24 ,  C04B14/34 ,  C04B20/1055 ,  C04B38/08 ,  C08J9/32 ,  F16L59/065 ,  F16L59/08 ,  F24S80/525 ,  F24S80/60 ,  G11C11/06 ,  G21B1/19 ,  H01F1/066 ,  H01F1/1535 ,  H01F1/15358 ,  Y02E10/40 ,  Y02E30/16

摘要： Filamented, hollow microspheres are disclosed which are connected or attached by a thin continuous filament. The filaments reduce contact between microsphere and reduce thermal conductivity therebetween and assist in handling and preventing scattering of microspheres. Preferably, the connecting filaments are 7 to 20 times the diameter of the microspheres. The microspheres are preferably free of holes thinned wall portions or sections and bubbles. The filamented microspheres can be used to make insulation materials, composites and insulating systems.

摘要翻译： 公开了通过薄连续细丝连接或附着的丝状中空微球。 长丝减少微球之间的接触并降低其间的导热性，有助于处理和防止微球散射。 优选地，连接长丝是微球直径的7至20倍。 微球优选没有孔变薄的壁部分或部分和气泡。 丝状微球可用于制造绝缘材料，复合材料和绝缘体系。

公开(公告)号：EP0197088A1

公开(公告)日：1986-10-15

申请号：EP85904948.0

申请日：1985-10-02

申请人： TOROBIN, Leonard B.

发明人： TOROBIN, Leonard B.

IPC分类号： B29C ,  B32B ,  C03B ,  C04B ,  C08J ,  B01J13 ,  C03B19 ,  C03C17 ,  C07K14 ,  C12M1 ,  C12P7

CPC分类号： C12P7/06 ,  C07K14/62 ,  C12M25/10 ,  C12M29/16 ,  Y02E50/17

摘要： Un bioréacteur comprend un conteneur (41) de microspheres creuses et une suspension ou solution liquide (55) d'un biocatalyseur (54) encapsulé dans les microspheres creuses. La microsphère creuse comprend une paroi poreuse sphérique (45) consistant en des particules inorganiques frittées (42). La paroi de la microsphère possède une épaisseur et une porosité sensiblement uniformes, cette paroi présentant des vides communiquant entre eux et qui s'étendent depuis la surface extérieure de la paroi jusqu'à la surface intérieure de cette même paroi, laquelle encercle un espace intracapsulaire sous la forme d'un vide unique central. L'espace intracapsulaire est rempli au moins à 70% de la solution ou suspension de biocatalyseur. La paroi de la microcapsule comprend en outre plusieurs ouvertures de macropores (44) s'étendant au traves de l'épaisseur de la paroi et ayant un diamètre plus grand que la dimension principale du biocatalyseur, et une membrane semiperméable (53) ayant une épaisseur sensiblement plus petite que l'épaisseur de la paroi de la microsphère. La membrane s'étend en travers des vides communiquant entre eux et les macropores de manière à encapsuler le biocatalyseur dans l'espace intracapsulaire tout en permettant la diffusion des gas, des liquides, et des substances dissoutes ou en suspension ayant un poids moléculaire inférieur à un poids moléculaire prédéterminé.

公开(公告)号：EP0074395A1

公开(公告)日：1983-03-23

申请号：EP82901240.0

申请日：1982-03-12

申请人： TOROBIN, Leonard B.

发明人： TOROBIN, Leonard B.

IPC分类号： B22D25 ,  B01D69 ,  B01D71 ,  B01J13 ,  B22F1 ,  B22F9 ,  B63B3 ,  C03B19 ,  C03B37 ,  C04B14 ,  C04B20 ,  C04B38 ,  C08J9 ,  C08K7 ,  F24J2 ,  G11C11 ,  H01F1 ,  H05H1

CPC分类号： G21B1/19 ,  B01D69/00 ,  B01D71/02 ,  B01J13/04 ,  B22F1/0051 ,  B22F9/082 ,  B22F2009/088 ,  B29C2049/4605 ,  B29C2049/4664 ,  B63B3/13 ,  C03B19/1075 ,  C03B37/022 ,  C03B2203/16 ,  C04B14/34 ,  C04B20/1055 ,  C04B38/08 ,  C08J9/32 ,  F24S80/525 ,  G11C11/06 ,  H01F1/066 ,  H01F1/1535 ,  H01F1/15358 ,  Y02E10/40 ,  Y02E30/16 ,  Y10S376/916 ,  Y10T428/12014 ,  Y10T428/12181

摘要： Hollow metal microspheres are made by forming a liquid film of molten film forming metal composition across a coaxial blowing nozzle and applying a blowing gas at a positive pressure on the inner surface of the metal film to blow the film and form an elongated cylinder shaped liquid film of molten metal. An inert entraining fluid is directed over and around the blowing nozzle at an angle to the axis of the blowing nozzle so that the entraining fluid dynamically induces a pulsating or fluctuating pressure field at the opposite side of the blowing nozzle in the wake of the coaxial blowing nozzle. The continued movement of the entraining fluid produces asymmetric fluid drag forces on the cylinder and closes and detaches the elongated cylinder from the coaxial blowing nozzle. Surface tension forces acting on the detached cylinder form the latter into a spherical shape which is rapidly cooled and solidified by cooling means to form a hard, smooth hollow metal microsphere. A thin metal coating can be deposited on the inner wall surface of the microspheres by using a metal vapor as the blowing gas or by adding to the blowing gas small dispersed metal particles and/or gases of organometallic compounds which are decomposed. The metal microspheres can be used to make insulation materials systems and as filler materials in plastics, plastic foam compositions, rubber and rubber compositions and in metal compositions. Filamented hollow metal microspheres with a thin metal filament connecting adjacent metal microspheres are also disclosed.

公开(公告)号：EP0020530A1

公开(公告)日：1981-01-07

申请号：EP79901405.0

申请日：1979-09-21

申请人： TOROBIN, Leonard B.

发明人： TOROBIN, Leonard B.

IPC分类号： B01J13 ,  B01J20 ,  B01J35 ,  B29C49 ,  C03B19 ,  C03B37 ,  C04B14 ,  C04B20 ,  F16L59 ,  F24J2

CPC分类号： C03B37/045 ,  B01J13/22 ,  B01J20/28 ,  B01J35/08 ,  B22F2009/088 ,  B29C49/0042 ,  B29C49/46 ,  B29C70/58 ,  B29C2049/4605 ,  B29C2049/4647 ,  B29C2049/465 ,  B29C2049/4655 ,  B29C2049/4664 ,  B29K2105/165 ,  C03B19/1075 ,  C03B37/022 ,  C03B37/0756 ,  C04B14/24 ,  C04B20/1055 ,  F16L59/065 ,  F16L59/08 ,  F24S80/525 ,  Y02E10/40

摘要： A centrifuge apparatus and a method of using the apparatus to make hollow glass microspheres and hollow glass vacuum microspheres. The centrifuge has a plurality of coaxial blowing nozzles (55) disposed in the outer peripheral wall (20) of the rotor (1). Molten glass (4) is supplied to the centrifuge and by centrifugal force is caused to coat the inner wall surface (20) of the rotor (1) and be fed to the coaxial nozzles (55). A blowing gas or metal vapor blowing gas is supplied to the centrifuge and fed to the coaxial blowing nozzles (55). An entraining fluid (54) is also supplied to the centrifuge which flows through the centrifuge and is directed at the coaxial blowing nozzles (55). The hollow glass vacuum microspheres (67) are made by forming a liquid film of molten glass across the coaxial blowing nozzles (55), applying a metal vapor blowing gas (60) at a positive pressure on the inner surface of the glass film to blow the film which combines with the centrifugal force to form an elongated cylinder shaped liquid film (62) of molten glass which is detached by a jet (63) to form a hollow sphere (67).

公开(公告)号：EP0190286B1

公开(公告)日：1990-02-07

申请号：EP85904045.3

申请日：1985-08-08

申请人： TOROBIN, Leonard B.

发明人： TOROBIN, Leonard B.

IPC分类号： B01J2/04 ,  C03B9/00 ,  C03B19/10 ,  C04B35/18 ,  C08J9/16 ,  C08J9/22

CPC分类号： B01J20/28 ,  B01J13/04 ,  B01J20/28021 ,  B01J35/08 ,  B22F1/0051 ,  B29C49/0005 ,  B29C49/0042 ,  B29C49/46 ,  B29C70/58 ,  B29C2049/4605 ,  B29C2049/465 ,  B29C2049/4655 ,  B29C2049/4664 ,  C03B19/1075 ,  C03B19/1085 ,  C03B37/022 ,  C03B37/04 ,  C03B37/0756 ,  C03B2203/16 ,  C03C11/002 ,  C03C17/09 ,  C04B14/24 ,  C04B18/027 ,  C04B20/1055 ,  C04B38/08 ,  C04B41/4584 ,  C08J9/32 ,  E21B43/267 ,  F24S80/525 ,  F24S80/60 ,  Y02E10/40 ,  Y10S521/919 ,  Y10T428/2984 ,  Y10T428/2989

摘要： Hollow microspheres are made by a process which comprises forming a film of a dispersed particle film-forming composition (containing dispersed particles, a binder, a film stabilizing agent and a continuous liquid phase) across a coaxial blowing nozzle, applying a blowing gas at a positive pressure on the inner surface of the dispersed particle composition film to blow the film and form, in the region of the coaxial blowing nozzle orifice, hollow dispersed particle microspheres having stable film walls, removing the hollow microspheres, treating them to bring dispersed particles into point to point contact and harden them to obtain hollow green microspheres, and subsequently subjecting them to a sufficiently high temperature for a sufficient period of time to remove the continuous liquid phase and to sinter the dispersed particles at their points of contact to form within the walls of said hollow microspheres interconnecting voids that are continuous from the outer wall surface to the inner wall surface of the hollow microspheres, and to obtain hollow porous microspheres having substantially uniform void content and substantially uniform distribution of the voids in their walls.

摘要翻译： 中空微球通过包括在同轴吹风喷嘴上形成分散颗粒成膜组合物的膜（包含分散颗粒，粘合剂，膜稳定剂和连续液相）的方法制成，在 在分散颗粒组合物膜的内表面上施加正压以吹膜，并且在同轴喷嘴孔的区域中形成具有稳定膜壁的中空分散颗粒微球，去除中空微球，处理它们以使分散的颗粒进入 点对点接触并硬化以获得中空的绿色微球，随后将它们足够高的温度持续足够的时间以除去连续的液相并在其接触点处将分散的颗粒烧结以形成在壁内 的所述中空微球体将从外壁表面连续的空隙相互连接 中空微球的内壁表面，并且获得具有基本上均匀的空隙含量和空隙在其壁中的分布基本均匀的中空多孔微球。

公开(公告)号：EP0226738B1

公开(公告)日：1989-06-14

申请号：EP86114167.9

申请日：1979-08-17

申请人： TOROBIN, Leonard B.

发明人： TOROBIN, Leonard B.

IPC分类号： C03B19/10 ,  C04B14/02 ,  C03B37/02 ,  F24J2/00 ,  C08J9/32 ,  B29C67/00 ,  C03B19/06 ,  E04B1/78 ,  B01J13/02 ,  E04B1/80

CPC分类号： B01D67/0072 ,  B01D69/00 ,  B01D71/02 ,  B01D2323/08 ,  B01J13/04 ,  B01J13/22 ,  B01J20/28 ,  B01J35/08 ,  B22F1/0051 ,  B22F9/082 ,  B22F2009/088 ,  B29C49/0042 ,  B29C49/46 ,  B29C70/58 ,  B29C2049/4605 ,  B29C2049/4608 ,  B29C2049/465 ,  B29C2049/4655 ,  B29C2049/4664 ,  B29K2105/165 ,  B63B3/13 ,  C03B19/10 ,  C03B19/1075 ,  C03B37/022 ,  C03B37/04 ,  C03B37/06 ,  C03B37/0756 ,  C03B2203/16 ,  C03C17/09 ,  C04B14/24 ,  C04B14/34 ,  C04B20/1055 ,  C04B38/08 ,  C08J9/32 ,  F16L59/065 ,  F16L59/08 ,  F24S80/525 ,  F24S80/60 ,  G11C11/06 ,  G21B1/19 ,  H01F1/066 ,  H01F1/1535 ,  H01F1/15358 ,  Y02E10/40 ,  Y02E30/16

摘要： Hollow glass microspheres (62) made from a low heat conductivity glass composition containing a high vacuum and a thin metal coating (63) deposited on the inner wall surface of the microspheres are described. The hollow glass microspheres are used to make superior insulation materials in the construction of highly efficient solar energy collectors. The hollow glass microspheres can also be made to contain a thin transparent or reflective metal coating deposited on the inner wall surface of the microspheres by adding to the blowing gas small dispersed metal particles and/or gases of organo-metal compounds and decomposing the organo-metal compounds. The hollow glass microspheres can be made from low heat conductivity glass compositions. The microspheres can be used to make improved insulation materials and composites and insulating systems, and panels (61). The hollow glass microspheres can be used as filler materials in plastics, in plastic foam compositions and in concrete and asphalt compositions. The hollow glass microspheres can also be made in the form of filamented glass microspheres with a thin glass filament connecting adjacent glass microsphere.

公开(公告)号：EP0080078B1

公开(公告)日：1987-07-29

申请号：EP82110062.5

申请日：1979-08-17

申请人： TOROBIN, Leonard B.

发明人： TOROBIN, Leonard B.

IPC分类号： C03B19/10 ,  B29C67/00 ,  F24J2/28 ,  C08J9/32

CPC分类号： B01D67/0072 ,  B01D69/00 ,  B01D71/02 ,  B01D2323/08 ,  B01J13/04 ,  B01J13/22 ,  B01J20/28 ,  B01J35/08 ,  B22F1/0051 ,  B22F9/082 ,  B22F2009/088 ,  B29C49/0042 ,  B29C49/46 ,  B29C70/58 ,  B29C2049/4605 ,  B29C2049/4608 ,  B29C2049/465 ,  B29C2049/4655 ,  B29C2049/4664 ,  B29K2105/165 ,  B63B3/13 ,  C03B19/10 ,  C03B19/1075 ,  C03B37/022 ,  C03B37/04 ,  C03B37/06 ,  C03B37/0756 ,  C03B2203/16 ,  C03C17/09 ,  C04B14/24 ,  C04B14/34 ,  C04B20/1055 ,  C04B38/08 ,  C08J9/32 ,  F16L59/065 ,  F16L59/08 ,  F24S80/525 ,  F24S80/60 ,  G11C11/06 ,  G21B1/19 ,  H01F1/066 ,  H01F1/1535 ,  H01F1/15358 ,  Y02E10/40 ,  Y02E30/16

摘要： Hollow glass microspheres (62) made from a low heat conductivity glass composition containing a high vacuum and a thin metal coating (63) deposited on the inner wall surface of the microspheres are described. The hollow glass microspheres are used to make superior insulation materials in the construction of highly efficient solar energy collectors. The hollow glass microspheres can also be made to contain a thin transparent or reflective metal coating deposited on the inner wall surface of the microspheres by adding to the blowing gas small dispersed metal particles and/or gases of organo-metal compounds and decomposing the organo-metal compounds. The hollow glass microspheres can be made from low heat conductivity glass compositions. The microspheres can be used to make improved insulation materials and composites and insulating systems, and panels (61). The hollow glass microspheres can be used as filler materials in plastics, in plastic foam compositions and in concrete and asphalt compositions. The hollow glass microspheres can also be made in the form of filamented glass microspheres with a thin glass filament connecting adjacent glass microsphere.