Cenosphere are a type of hollow fly ash ball that can float on the water surface. They are gray white in color, with thin walls and hollow structures. They are very light in weight and have a bulk density of 720kg/m3 (heavy) and 418.8kg/m3 (light), with a particle size of about 0.1 millimeters. The surface is closed and smooth, with low thermal conductivity and a fire resistance of ≥ 1610 ℃. They are excellent temperature maintaining refractory materials and are widely used in the production of lightweight castables and oil drilling. The chemical composition of floating beads is mainly composed of silicon dioxide and aluminum trioxide, which have various characteristics such as fine particles, hollow, lightweight, high strength, wear resistance, high temperature resistance, insulation and flame retardancy, and are widely used as raw materials in the refractory industry.

The application of floating beads in coatings and paints has the following advantages:

1. Low resin dosage/high potential for dosage: Because in any shape, spherical shapes have the smallest specific surface area and the demand for resin by floating beads is also minimal. The accumulation of particles has also been improved. The wide particle size distribution of floating beads allows small microspheres to fill the gaps between larger microspheres. The result… is actually: high addition amount, high solid content, lower VOC, and reduced dosage of other components;

2. Low viscosity/improved fluidity: Unlike irregularly shaped particles, floating beads can easily roll between each other. This makes the system using floating beads have lower viscosity and better fluidity. Moreover, the sprayability of the system has also been improved;

3. Hardness/Wear Resistance: cenosphereare high-strength and hard microspheres that can enhance the hardness, washability, and wear resistance of coatings;

4. Excellent thermal insulation effect: Due to the hollow spherical structure of the floating beads, their filling in the coating has excellent thermal insulation effect;

5. Gloss control: As a filler, floating beads can reduce gloss and control surging. Even in situations with high requirements for addition, they can eliminate the significant increase in viscosity caused by ordinary dull agents, and the cost is also low;

6. Inertia: cenosphereare composed of inert components, thus possessing excellent durability, weather resistance, corrosion resistance, and chemical resistance;

7. Opacity: The hollow spherical shape of the floating beads causes slow and scattered light, resulting in an increase in the covering power of the coating;

8. Dispersibility: Like mineral fillers, the dispersion of floating beads can withstand the processing of all types of mixers, extruders, and molding machines due to their thick walls and high compressive strength;

9. Non crystalline silicon pollution: Unlike other fillers, the content of crystalline silicon in floating beads is below a harmless level. This type of floating bead is not considered a carcinogen and does not require special hazard warning signs to indicate it.

10. High solid industrial coatings: low viscosity, high dosage, reduce VOC, improve hardness, control gloss, increase wear resistance and spray resistance, and reduce costs;

11. Water soluble industrial topcoat: increase solid content, reduce film permeability, enhance corrosion resistance, hardness, inertness, wear resistance, control gloss, and reduce costs;

12. Thermal insulation, thermal insulation, and fireproof coatings: High temperature resistance, flame retardancy, and excellent thermal insulation effect;

13. Maintenance coatings: Chemical resistance and corrosion resistance, durability, wear resistance, low coating penetration, high dosage and low cost;

14 powder coating: improving fluidity, hardness, wear resistance, controlling gloss, and reducing costs;

15 coil steel coating: flexibility, corrosion resistance, gloss control, high solid content, and cost reduction;

16 Primer: Improve salt spray performance, temperature, and chemical resistance, increase solid content, and reduce costs;

17 Architectural coatings: Durability, weather resistance, higher PVC, increased opacity, improved friction resistance, and uniformity of gloss;

18. Adhesion to cement and mortar: Improve rheological properties, increase dosage, increase durability, and reduce shrinkage deformation.