The present disclosure is directed to an aqueous dispersion of inorganic fibers and a method for formulating an aqueous coating composition therefrom. The aqueous dispersion of inorganic fibers comprises water, inorganic fibers, a dispersing agent, an anti-settling agent and optionally additional additives, wherein the inorganic fibers have an average fiber diameter of from 1 micron to 100 microns and have a number average aspect ratio of from 1.1:1 to 10:1; and wherein the aqueous dispersion does not contain a film-forming amount of a polymeric resin.