Titanium Dioxide: A Multifunctional Inorganic Chemical Pigment Empowering Upgrades in Multiple Industries

Titanium dioxide (mainly composed of titanium dioxide) is an important inorganic chemical pigment. The mainstream production processes are divided into the sulfuric acid method and the chlorination method. The sulfuric acid method has the advantages of wide raw material sources and simple equipment, suitable for low-cost production needs; the chlorination method has short process flow and low energy consumption, suitable for the production of high-end rutile titanium dioxide. Both processes can meet the needs of industrial-grade titanium dioxide in different scenarios.

As a pigment with extremely wide uses, titanium dioxide covers multiple mainstream industries such as coatings, plastics, and papermaking, and also extends to emerging fields such as new energy materials, environmental protection coatings, and biomedicine. It has multiple functions including coloring, protection, and reinforcement, serving as the core carrier of high-opacity titanium dioxide and adapting to the functional pigment application needs of various industries.

The coating industry is its largest user, with rutile titanium dioxide accounting for a very high proportion. Titanium dioxide for coatings, with the advantages of bright colors, strong hiding power and tinting strength, can enhance film strength, resist ultraviolet rays and moisture, extend service life, and is especially suitable for outdoor architectural coatings and automotive coatings.

The plastic industry is the second largest user. Adding titanium dioxide for plastics can improve the heat resistance, light resistance and weather resistance of plastic products, optimize their physical and chemical properties and mechanical strength, and extend their service life, making them suitable for long-term protection of outdoor plastic products.

In the papermaking industry, titanium dioxide is mostly used in high-end and thin paper. Titanium dioxide for paper coating can improve the whiteness, gloss and strength of paper, preventing penetration during printing. Anatase titanium dioxide without surface treatment is generally used for ordinary papermaking, which can act as a fluorescent whitening agent to increase paper whiteness. However, laminated paper requires surface-treated rutile titanium dioxide to meet the requirements of light resistance and heat resistance.

In addition, titanium dioxide is an indispensable white pigment in high-grade inks, with durability, non-discoloration, good surface wettability and easy dispersion. Both rutile and anatase titanium dioxide are used in the ink industry. Titanium dioxide is also an important application field in the textile and chemical fiber industry. Titanium dioxide for chemical fibers is mainly used as a matting agent. Since anatase is softer than rutile, anatase is generally used. Titanium dioxide for chemical fibers generally does not require surface treatment, but some special varieties need surface treatment to reduce the photochemical effect of titanium dioxide and avoid fiber degradation under the photocatalytic effect of titanium dioxide.

With its non-toxic property, titanium dioxide is also increasingly used in cosmetics, far superior to lead white. Adding only 5%-8% titanium dioxide to face powder can achieve permanent whiteness, making the fragrance smoother, with better adhesion, absorbency and hiding power. In water powder and cold cream, titanium dioxide can reduce the greasy and transparent feeling. It can also be used in various other cosmetics, sunscreens, soap flakes, white soaps and toothpastes.

Our company, Shanghai Shake Chemical , is engaged in the trade of titanium dioxide, selling brands such as LB Group (BILLIONS™), CNNC Huayuan, Titanos, and Dawn Titanium. For any brand and model requirements, please feel free to contact us for a quotation.