Process and composition for minimizing accumulation of moisture on a cold surface exposed to humid conditions and product obtained thereby

A process for minimizing accumulation of moisture on a cold surface exposed to humid conditions which tend to cause condensation on the surface, which comprises painting said surface with a liquid coating composition having dispersed in a volatile vehicle water-absorptive particles in admixture with a resinous binder in an amount sufficient to bind said particles together in an adherent coating on said surface but insufficient to occlude the water absorptivity of the particles, said particles comprising a mixture of cellulose fibers and water-absorptive, heat-expanded perlite having a bulk density less than 150 kgs/m.sup.3, the pores of which particles are filled with said volatile vehicle when the liquid coating composition is applied, and allowing or causing the volatile vehicle to evaporate from the applied coating and from the pores of the particles therein, and in which the heat-expanded perlite is present in an amount of about 5 percent to about 15 percent by weight, the cellulose fibers are present in an amount of about 1 percent to about 5 percent by weight, the binder is present in an amount of about 15 percent to about 40 percent by weight and, the volatile vehicle in the amount of about 20 percent to about 45 percent by weight.