20 P IG M E N T S A ND FI LLER S P R ODUC T O V ER V I E W

WHITE AND BEAUTIFUL

Despite all latest events such as the classification as
Source: fotomek – stock.adobe.com

potentially carcinogenic by inhalation, titanium dioxide is

still the pigment of choice for white paints and coatings.
In our over view you will find some examples for different
applications. By Nina Musche

I t is often forgotten in everyday odds and ends, but also many col-
oured paints need the white titanium dioxide to achieve sufficient
opacity. Other properties make it the most important pigment for al-
most all everyday necessities: plastics, toothpaste, sun screen and of
course paints and coatings.
The classification by the European Commission was a shock for the
industry. Of course everyone agrees that potentially dangerous sub-
stances must be labelled as such. Unfortunately, however, this classifi-
cation is on shaky ground, namely a study on rats from almost 20 years

Product Modification/ TiO 2 content Surface Particle

Company Properties
name production route (min.) treatment size

Silica and
Ti-Pure Rutile/Chloride High gloss, durability, easy wet-in,
Chemours 93.0 % aluminium + 0.36 µm
R 706 process dispersibility, good hiding
organic treatment

Ti-Pure Oxide treatment,

Rutile/Chloride Hiding power, brightness, works as spacer,
Select 82.0 % not further 0.53 µm
process adequate weatherability
TS 6300 specified

Aluminium and Highly weather-resistant, readily wetted and

Kronos Rutile/Chloride Not dispersed, hiding power and tinting strength,
Kronos 92.0 % silicon
2360 process specified low haze, high gloss, brightness;
compounds clean tints in colored applications

"Dense skin" Reduces gloss, improves stain resistance,

KronoMatt Rutile/Chloride Not
92.0 % aluminium and brightness, readily wetted and dispersed,
9000 process specified
silicon compounds replaces standard TiO 2 and matting agents 1:1

Lomon Lomon Rutile/Sulfate Aluminium Not

89.0 % High retention in pulp, high light fastness
Billions LR-952 process and phosphate specified

Lomon Rutile/Sulfate Aluminium Not High durability and opacity, good gloss,
93.0 %
LR-972 process and silica specified weather stability and dispersibility

Bluish undertone and opacity

Tinox Rutile/Sulfate not Inorganic,
Tinox 0.30 µm comparable to chloride TiO 2, gloss,
R-2160 process specified organic easy to disperse in water and solvents

Tinox Rutile/Sulfate Not

99.0 % Untreated High opacity, excellent dispersibility
SUR-100 process specified

Rutile/Sulfate Aluminium Not IR-reflective, reduce heat build and

Venator Altiris 550i 90.0 %
process and silica specified enhanced durability

Small particle size distribution, high opacity,

Tioxide Rutile/Sulfate Aluminium and
96.0 % 0.25 µm gloss and easy to disperse, low abrasion,
RFDO process organic bluish undertone

E U R O P E AN CO AT I NGS J O UR N AL 03 – 2020
 P R O DU C T O V ER VIE W 21

“Industrialised
countries consume 4kg TiO 2
ago, where in principle it was only proved that dust can be dangerous. per person, whereas India only
Alternative proposals have not been followed, and now it is official since
February: there will be new labelling after a transitional period. Howev- consumes 0.5kg“
er, titanium dioxide has relatively few alternatives in its use in paints and
coatings - the properties are too good. It is not by accident that the price,
which has been high for years, is accepted. Titanium dioxide makes up
about 4-25 % of a paint formulation, but its cost amounts to 10-30 %
in a formulation. Also the strong price volatility, e.g. caused by the clo-
sure of some production plants, and the big fire at a production site in

Finland, are problems that no purchasind department likes to deal with. BOOK TIP TITANIUM DIOXIDE
On the technical side, there are some developments which, in addition
to the economic pressure and thus the reduction and replacement in This book contains a wealth of information on the
the paint formulation, make it exciting to deal with this topic. For ex- properties and use of titanium dioxide pigments. It
ample, a pigment in our list reflects IR-radiation. This helps to keep the gives the reader a comprehensive insight into how tita-
temperatures in buildings low - and thus the costs and CO2 emissions nium dioxide works and its possible applications.
from air conditioning systems. Another product was designed specifi- Practitioners will especially welcome the fact that
cally for matt coatings, a conceptual 180° turn to other requirements chapter 4 includes information on the scope for, and
such as very high gloss. Find your inspiration!   limitations on, replacing TiO2 pigments in formulations.

Jochen Winkler; ISBN 3-86630-833-7,

Oil absorption 2013 Vincentz Network
Application
in g/g

Solvent and water-borne systems,

13.9
architectural, industrial and automotive IS IT SAFE TO PAINT YOUR WALL WHITE?
A CASE STUDY ON TIO 2 CLASSIFICATION
High quality flat architectural coatings,
37.0
close or above CPVC, TiO2 is classified as a suspected carcinogenic substance. The
present case study probes the outcomes of this potential classi-
Industrial coatings, water-borne, exterior powder fication in terms of the reduction of hazardous exposure to TiO2
19.0 coatings, automotive finish and refinish, due to its classification. The case study examines the elements
high quality architectural coatings that are causing ambiguity during the classification process.
It shows that TiO2 classification as a carcinogen will not directly
Binder rich high quality coatings, matte and reduce respiratory exposure to TiO2. Instead, the classification
semi-gloss coatings; e.g. wood will lead to restrictions on recycling. Recommendations: the de-
24.0
(furniture, doors), interior and exterior architectural
cision on the TiO2 classification should be reconsidered. Fur-
and weather resistant industrial coatings
thermore, the ECHA should develop state-of-the-art guidance
on how to use the available human exposure data. Finally, the
Not Decorative lamination papers,
authorities are advised to use the generated data as efficient as
specified printing inks, rigid PVC and plastics
possible and to verify the connections between the regulations
result and the intended outcome.
Industrial coatings, external and
19.0
internal architectural coatings Elina Kähkönen; Integrated Environmental Assessment and
Management, Volume 15, Issue 6, Nov 2019, p 1000-1011
Architectural, wood and industrial
13.6 coatings, interior and exterior,
Source: Edward R – stock.adobe.com

water-borne and solvent-borne coatings

Not
High concentrate TiO 2 Slurries
specified

19.0 "Cool coatings" of all colors.

High-gloss inks and coatings; solvent-,

20.0
water-borne and radiation curing,

E U R OP E AN COAT I NGS JOU RN A L 03 – 2020