Titanium dioxide,
the finest white pigment
Titanium dioxide is the best white pigment available, because it has the optical properties needed to provide every application, through proper dispersion, with a high level of opacity and exceptional whiteness. These characteristics make it indispensable in the most diverse everyday applications, such as paints and coatings, plastics, inks, cosmetics and personal care products, paper, and products for the pharmaceutical and food industries.
Titanium is a relatively abundant element in nature, ranking 9th overall and 4th among metals. It occurs in various crystalline forms, the main ones being rutile and anatase, which are processed to remove impurities until the white pigment par excellence is obtained.
Odorless and absorbent, naturally possessing a high refractive index that provides brightness to every application for which it is intended, it is undoubtedly the most widely used white pigment in the world thanks to its many technical characteristics:
- Exceptional white color: extremely high hiding and tinting power
- High chemical stability: inert to most chemical compounds
- Resistance to UVA rays: protects materials from solar radiation
- Insolubility in water
Why is the use of TiO₂ indispensable?
- Tinting power, opacity and brightness: its high refractive index, similar to that of diamond, guarantees brightness, coverage and color. Its ability to lighten other pigments makes it an essential base for obtaining any shade of color, while ensuring high brightness and the ability to coat the substrate even with a thickness of just a few µm
- Photocatalytic properties: in the presence of UV light, TiO₂ generates oxidizing radicals and degrades organic substances and pollutants
- Non-toxic and safe: TiO₂ is safe for use in a wide range of applications, including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food products and, above all, paints and coatings, one of the key criteria considered by manufacturers when choosing a pigment.
The high refractive index, similar to that of diamond, guarantees:
- opacity: it has the power to hide underlying surfaces thanks to its high ability to reflect light. The higher the TiO₂ content in paint and coating formulations, the greater their hiding power, reducing the need to apply multiple coats to treated surfaces.
- brightness: the high light-reflecting power makes it possible to brighten and lighten both interior and exterior surfaces, making painted areas vivid and attractive. This characteristic is particularly valuable for applications such as ceiling paints, in order to provide brightness to indoor spaces.
- durability and resistance to weathering: when incorporated into paints and coatings, it protects surfaces from the harmful effects of ultraviolet light, which causes fading, yellowing and thinning over time. It is therefore essential for the coating sector, especially for outdoor applications such as residential buildings, automobiles and industrial equipment, significantly increasing the durability of these coatings.
- chemical stability: titanium dioxide is chemically stable and inert; unlike other pigments, it does not react with other ingredients in paint formulations, making the paint durable. It is also resistant to deterioration caused by environmental exposure to humidity, heat and various chemicals.
- non-toxic and safe: it is considered safe for use in a wide range of applications, including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food products and, above all, paints and coatings, one of the key criteria considered by manufacturers when choosing a pigment.