Opaque polymers are non-film-forming synthetic pigments  engineered
to provide dry hiding in water-based coatings.                                    
They consist of spherical styrene/acrylic beads supplied as emulsions.
In wet paints the beads are filled with water. As the paints dry, water permanently
diffuses from the center of the beads and is replaced by air, resulting in discrete
encapsulated air voids uniformly dispersed throughout the dry paint film.
The encapsulated air voids provide optimal hiding when the paint film dries and
light is scattered as it passes from the exterior of the beads to the interior micro
voids.

Properties