3M Ceramic Microspheres

The start of a better finish.

Functional fillers for architectural paints help keep painted surfaces looking like new, longer.

3M™ Ceramic Microspheres for Paints and Coatings

Painted surfaces that are easy to wash and even scrub. Flat architectural paints with a smooth finish and an even sheen. In all these ways and more, 3M™ Ceramic Microspheres enhance durability and performance in a wide variety of architectural and industrial paints and coatings.

3M ceramic microspheres are high-strength solid engineered particles. In addition to helping manufacturers reduce costs and improve processability, these intrinsically hard fillers contribute functional, customer-pleasing properties to paint and coating formulations:

Increase solids and reduce resin demand while maintaining desired properties
Allow improved viscosity control
May allow formulations with lower Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Scrub, burnish and sag resistance for longevity and improved paint performance
Enhanced packing and higher filler loading to help reduce costs
UV transparent down to 250 nm and radiation curable

To round off the list, 3M ceramic microspheres help paints and coatings manufacturers differentiate their products with the added consumer appeal of ceramic technology.

High filler loading

By allowing higher solids and lower resin demand, 3M ceramic microspheres may enable lower VOC formulations.
Lower viscosity

When 3M ceramic microspheres are added to a resin system, their low binder demand allows a lower viscosity compared to conventional fillers. This increases the processing window in industrial paints and coatings
Intrinsic hardness

Unlike soft, irregularly shaped particles that break or wear away, 3M ceramic microspheres resist scrubbing and burnishing – helping keep paint coatings smooth and uniform.