Fully or partially metal-coated microspheres are often used to create a conductive or retroreflective surface while taking advantage of precise spherical shape and controlled particle size of microspheres. Metal coatings on glass (solid and hollow) and polymer core spheres are available. There are numerous research articles based on work with metal-coated microspheres.

Metal-coated microspheres were developed to produce electrically conductive coatings that can be added to tiles, fabrics, adhesives, sealers, plastic, rubber, composite and resin materials. When added at appropriate ratios, these materials provide electrical conductivity and shield electronic devices against EMI. Low particle density and a large surface area facilitate slow phase separation in paints and adhesives compared to heavy metallic and inorganic fillers.

Metal-coated microspheres also offer unique advantages as PIV tracers and seeding particles for flow visualization applications that require densities below or above the density of water. The true particle density of the seeding particles is precisely controlled with the density of the core sphere (solid or hollow glass) and a thin metal coating that adds a highly visible reflective surface.


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Retroreflective Half-Shell Aluminum Coated Solid Glass Microspheres
Item #: P2453BTA -
Price: $133.37-$714.64
Item #: P2453BTA - View

The spheres are offered in dry powder form with the following coating options: Uncoated - no surface treatment Silane Coating (S2) - for improved dispersion in aqueous systems (~76 degree contact... [more info...]

Conductive Silver Metal Coated Hollow Glass Microspheres
Item #: HGMS-AG -
Price: $133.37-$1,995.15
Item #: HGMS-AG - View

Conductive hollow glass microspheres have low particle densities and so provide a significant weight reduction when used in place of conventional conductive fillers such as solid silver particles. A... [more info...]

Conductive Silver-Coated Glass Microspheres, Beads, Particles
Item #: SLGMS-AG -
Price: $133.03-$334.87
Item #: SLGMS-AG - View

Also see: Other Conductive Spheres: Conductive Silver Metal Coated Microspheres Other Soda Lime Spheres: Solid Soda Lime Glass Spheres and Microspheres ... [more info...]

Conductive Silver Coated Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) Acrylic Microspheres
Item #: PMMA-AG -
Price: $127.02-$468.30
Item #: PMMA-AG - View

Sphericity varies by Product Code: PMMAMS-AG: These are highly spherical particles. Greater than 95% of particles are spherical. PMPMS-AG: Also highly spherical grade, with occasional minor... [more info...]

Conductive Silica Spacer Beads - Silica Microspheres Monodisperse
Item #: SiO2MS-AG -
Price: $358.60
Item #: SiO2MS-AG - View

SiO2MS-AG-4.1 2.0um - 200mg -- Coated with ~85nm of silver SiO2MS-AG-3.5 4.5um - 500mg -- Coated with ~110nm of silver SiO2MS-AG-2.3 9.0um – 500mg -- Coated with ~75nm silver We also offer... [more info...]

Aluminum-Coated Solid Barium Titanate Glass Microspheres 4.2g/cc - 30-100um Diameter
Item #: BTGMS-Al -
Price: $168.40
Item #: BTGMS-Al - View

Physical Characteristics: Coating: Fully Aluminum Coated (~500nm thickness) Core: Solid Barium Titanate Glass Spheres Density: ~4.2g/cc Appearance: Grey powder [more info...]