Why Titanium Dioxide?
Titanium dioxide is the brightest, whitest pigment available.
Why is it used?
Although not as familiar to the general public as 'titanium' ("used in aircraft"), titanium dioxide, or "TiO2", is a multi-million ton-per-year global product manufactured by a relatively small number of specialist producers. It is the brightest white pigment with the highest opacity of any commercial product, and is used to impart whiteness and opacity to paints, plastics, paper and in many other smaller applications. TiO2 can also improve the durability of coatings and films. Because of its clean tone and opacifying properties, TiO2 is widely used in pastel and colored finishes as well as whites.
Where is it used?
TiO2 is all around you, in the paint on your walls, woodwork, motor car and kitchen appliances; in the plastic of carrier bags, food packaging, window frames, siding/cladding and flooring; in fine paper, paper and board coatings, and paper laminate work tops and flooring; and also in toothpaste/dentifrice, cosmetics and some foodstuffs, and many other applications.
The annual global production of titanium dioxide is around 4 million tons and of this around 58% is used in paints or coatings, 20% in plastics, 13% in paper and 9% in a wide range of smaller applications. Regionally these values vary due to, for example, typically higher TiO2 content in North American paper making.
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