Titanium dioxide

Titanium dioxide or titania (TIO2) was first produced commercially in 1923. It is obtained from various ores, including ilmenite. The bulk material TIO2 exists in three general forms: rutile, anatase, and brookite. Among them, TIO2 is most commonly found in the rutile and anatase phases, both of which have tetragonal structures. Titania pigment is one of the oldest coating pigments.

The element is actually a rare iron titanate that is found in many parts of the world, including India and Norway, the United States, Canada, and Sweden. The rutile type is actually natural titanium dioxide, which is separated from other materials by the chloride method and is a suitable starting material for this method.

Titanium dioxide pigments (TIO2) are responsible for the whiteness and opaqueness of the coating film and affect a wide range of other film properties. The introduction and development of titanium dioxide throughout the 20th century has made it possible to produce reliable, high-quality coatings for use on both interior and exterior surfaces. However, the industrial production processes for titanium dioxide are relatively expensive, and therefore this pigment is often the most expensive raw material used in emulsion paints.

The specific gravity is 4.2-3.9, the melting point is 1854 ° C and the hardness is 6.5-5.5. Titanium dioxide is insoluble in water, organic acids, and dilute alkali solutions, but it is soluble in hot sulfuric acid and HF.

Among white pigments, titanium dioxide has greater hiding power and better color uniformity, and for this reason it is the most widely used white pigment. This pigment is non-toxic, resistant to solvents used in paints, and has good thermal stability. It also has good chemical stability, and is soluble only in concentrated sulfuric acid, which has a very slow reaction rate.