Paintball Materials Overview
Overview
Paintball materials consist of gelatin based shells and water soluble fills that balance breakability, structural integrity, and environmental performance.
Key Points
- Shells are typically composed of gelatin and plasticizers.
- Fill formulations are water soluble and designed for visibility.
- Temperature and humidity affect shell characteristics.
- Material behavior influences breakability and flight consistency.
- Manufacturing variables contribute to size and roundness variance.
Details
Paintballs use a two part construction: an outer shell and an inner fill. The shell is usually made from gelatin combined with plasticizers that adjust flexibility and brittleness. Manufacturers tune these ratios depending on intended use, environmental expectations, and production requirements.
The fill is water soluble and formulated for visibility, density, and flow characteristics. Its viscosity affects how the ball ruptures on impact and how it disperses. Environmental factors such as temperature influence both shell stiffness and fill thickness, which together determine break characteristics and flight behavior.
Paintball manufacturing introduces natural variance in roundness, wall thickness, and diameter, affecting how the ball interacts with bore sizes and gas dynamics. Material science defines these characteristics without prescribing performance outcomes for individual brands or formats.
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