A process for surface treating or sizing glass beads and similar discrete particles such as silicon carbide, sand and the like, with a chemical adhesion promoter to provide the glass beads with water repellent and organic solvent repellent properties. The surface treatment improves adhesion of the bead to the substrate in which it is embedded, which may be paint or various types of organic binders. Because of the hydrophobic and oleophobic properties provided through repellent surface treatment, the beads do not sink through the binder but rather are floated thereon, and the top surfaces are exposed to provide for reflexreflective properties. The surface treating or sizing agent is an organo-titanium derivative, including alkyl-titanates, titaniumacylates, and titanium-chelates, in which between two and four of the coordination positions of the titanium are occupied by alkyl or aromatic groups.