What Is Titanium Dioxide (TiO₂) and What Are Its Main Uses? Huangyao Chemical Explains!

Titanium dioxide, commonly known as TiO₂, is a white pigment whose primary function is not only to cover underlying colors but also to blend well with new colors. This strong hiding power is mainly due to TiO₂’s high refractive index and its ability to reflect almost all visible light. So, what are the main applications of titanium dioxide? Huangyao Chemical’s editor is here to introduce them to you!

1. Coatings:
Coatings are viscous suspensions made of binders, pigments, solvents, and additives. Titanium dioxide is used as a pigment in coatings. Pigments provide hiding power and decorative effects, making the coatings aesthetically pleasing. Additionally, TiO₂ enhances the mechanical strength and adhesion of the coating film, thereby extending its service life.

2. Plastics:
In plastic products, TiO₂ not only provides high hiding power and excellent pigment properties such as tinting strength, but also improves heat resistance, lightfastness, and weather resistance. It protects plastic products from UV damage and enhances their mechanical and electrical properties.

3. Inks:
The main white pigments used in ink manufacturing are titanium dioxide and zinc barium white. TiO₂ offers excellent physicochemical stability, various resistances, and generally costs less than other materials used in inks.

4. Paper:
Paper containing titanium dioxide has excellent whiteness, high strength, gloss, and smoothness. It is thin yet opaque and does not allow ink to bleed through during printing. Under the same conditions, TiO₂ provides ten times higher opacity than calcium carbonate or talc and can reduce paper weight by 15–30%. Therefore, decorative papers, Bible paper, and banknotes all rely on TiO₂.

5. Rubber:
In the rubber industry, TiO₂ serves as both a colorant and a reinforcing, anti-aging, and filling agent. It is mainly used in automotive tires, rubber shoes, rubber flooring, gloves, and sports equipment, with rutile-type TiO₂ being the preferred form.

6. Cosmetics:
Non-toxic titanium dioxide has largely replaced lead and zinc whites in various powders. In water-based creams and cold creams, TiO₂ reduces greasiness and transparency. It is also widely used in perfumes, sunscreens, soap bars, white soaps, and toothpaste.

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About Huangyao Chemical

Founded in 2015, Huangyao Chemical has evolved from a single chemical trading company into an international one-stop plastic solutions provider. The group headquarters is located in Taipei, one of Asia’s most livable cities, leading the development of markets in Greater China, East Asia, and West Asia. Since 2020, Huangyao Chemical, together with its sister companies Pegasus Chemical and Huangqi Chemical, has been actively promoting Tronox pigments, including titanium dioxide, across South China, East China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia.