August 19, 2024 – With the thriving development of the coatings industry in recent years, titanium dioxide, as a critical raw material, has seen increasingly stringent performance requirements. Nowadays, titanium dioxide must not only exhibit excellent dispersibility and covering power but also maintain extremely low impurity levels. To meet these high standards, production techniques for titanium dioxide have continuously evolved, leading to an expansion of its application fields.
Among the various types of titanium dioxide, pigment-grade titanium dioxide stands out due to its high refractive index, strong achromatic power, and superior covering and dispersing properties. It has found widespread use in multiple sectors such as coatings and papermaking. Especially in the coatings industry, pigment-grade titanium dioxide holds the highest usage ratio, with rutile titanium dioxide being particularly favored by the industrial sector.
Coatings play a crucial role in decorating and protecting object surfaces, and the covering power of pigments is a pivotal factor determining coating performance. In the construction and automotive industries, coatings with high covering power not only conceal the original color of objects but also enhance decorative effects by adding fresh hues.
The applications of pigment-grade titanium dioxide in coatings are diverse, including the production of decorative coatings, architectural coatings, pure white coatings, and multicolored patterned coatings. Additionally, it plays a significant role in the manufacture of special functional coatings, conductive materials, and titanium dioxide slurries.
Meanwhile, nano-grade titanium dioxide has garnered attention for its unique properties. Its UV shielding and absorbing capabilities make it a vital component in the production of UV-resistant coatings. Furthermore, rutile nano-grade titanium dioxide produces captivating optical effects, finding widespread use in areas like automotive topcoats.
Facing the extensive application of titanium dioxide in coating production, China needs to continuously improve its production technology to meet market demand. Despite technical challenges, relevant manufacturers are striving to overcome difficulties and enhance the quality of titanium dioxide to satisfy the high standards of the coatings industry, pushing titanium dioxide to play a greater role in this sector.
According to the Color Masterbatch Industry Network, there is still a gap between domestic titanium dioxide producers and international advanced levels in terms of scale and quality. Therefore, China should intensify research and development efforts, innovate production technologies, and elevate the quality of titanium dioxide to better serve the coatings and other related industries.