Scratch resistant varnish containing surface reactive microparticles and anti-scrathc method using same

The present invention is a coating composition having good scratch resistance and a method for improving the scratch resistance of a coating composition. The coating composition comprises (A) a film forming binder system containing a crosslinkable resin and optionally a crosslinking agent for the crosslinkable resin; (B) substantially colorless carbide or inorganic microparticles, range in size from about 1 to 1000 nanometers prior to incorporation in the coating composition, and the microparticles are reactive with the crosslinkable portion of the film forming binder system; (C) a solvent system for the crosslinkable resin, optional crosslinking agent, and microparticles, wherein the crosslinkable resin is present in an amount from about 10 to about 80% by weight and the inorganic microparticles are present in an amount from 0.1 to 60.0% by weight based on the sum of the weights of the crosslinkable resin, the optional crosslinking agent, and the inorganic microparticles.