1. Why is it so widely used in many industries?

Titanium dioxide (CAS No. 13463-67-7), for being an important inorganic chemical raw material, is non-toxic and no harm to our human body. It is the most important white pigment, which occupy 80% of the whole usage amount.

The chemical properties of titanium dioxide has good stability, and it will not react with most materials in most cases. In the natural world, titanium dioxide has three types of crystal habits which are brookite, anatase and rutile. Brookite is one kind of unstable crytal, with no industrial value, while anatase and rutile all have stable properties, which are very important white pigment.

Compared with other white pigments, it is well accepted for its super whiteness, tinting strength, covering power, weather fastness, durability, heat resistance, chemical stability, and especially without any toxicity. As a mostly-wide used white pigment, it has great brightness and high refractive index. Titanium dioxide is widely applied in many fields for its excellent performance as one best pigment, such as paint, ink, plastic, rubber, paper making, chemical fiber, etc.

2. The titanium dioxide use in different fields

1). Use in painting

Around the whole world, the applications of titanium dioxide are very wide in many fields, such as painting, plastics, paper and so on. And the consumption structures of titanium dioxide are as below: Painting 58%～60%; Plastics 18%～20%; Paper 13%～14%; Rubber, fiber, oil and cosmetics industry are occupying 8%～10%.

In the whole world, 90% of the titanium ore is used in the production of TiO2 pigment, and approximately 4 million tons of pigmentary TiO2 are consumed annually worldwide. In paint industry, titanium dioxide are mainly the rutile form. The pigment produced by titanium dioxide has super special properties, such as brightness in color, high covering powder, strong inting strength, less consumption, high variety, super protection to medium's stability; Besides, it could also prevent crack, ultraviolet rays and water permeability.The titanium dioxide application could also have other purposes in usage, including in cars, shipping, construction, wood & metal furniture, household appliances, coil coating, toy, daily necessities and so on. Besides, with the development of our transportation, paint consumption in cars and road signs are increasingly rising year by year.

2). Use in plastics

Titanium dioxide also takes a very significant role in plastic industry. The superiorities of titanium dioxide are showed as below in plastics:(1). Good Hiding powder, super reducing power and high performance in compatibility with other pigments; (2). Improving the heat resistance, light fastness, weather fastness of the plastic products, to prevent it from UV invasion; (3) Improving its mechanical strength and electrical property, to increase its usage life. When in usage, super titanium dioxide could be seen from its fine particle size and good size distribution in plastic application.

3). Use in paper industry

The applications of titanium dioxide are also in fine paper and thin paper. The main purposes to add titanium dioxide has the following advantages: (1). Give the opacity and whiteness; (2). Improve the smoothness, mechanical properties and elasticity; (3). Induce hygroscopicity and then improve gloss and printing performance.

4). Use in ink, textile industry

In ink industry, titanium dioxide is one kind of indispensable white paint. As it is durable and not easy to change color, titanium dioxide is usually applied in printing-ink. When used in textile and chemical fiber, it is usually applied as one kind of delustering agent.

5). Use in cosmetic industry

In cosmetic and skin care products, Titanium dioxide use also needs large consumption. In 80s, the annual consumption amount of titanium dioxide is estimated to be at 3500t—4000t, while it is arising to 5000t-10000t at this moment. For its UV resistant properties where it acts as a UV absorber, efficiently transforming destructive UV light energy into heat, it is usually applied in different kinds of skin care products. Further, it is also found in every sunscreen because of its high refractive index, as its super property could improve its stability and ability to protect the skin from ultraviolet light.

From the above, it is widely applied as one inorganic raw material in cosmetic products. However, the appropriative titanium dioxide in cosmetic products has high purity and also needs high restriction to harmful impurities.

The titanium dioxide use is more than what we said above. Titanium dioxide, withits anatase form, is one kind of photocatalyst under ultraviolet (UV) light. And its solution or suspension is used to cleave protein that contains the amino acid proline. What's more, TiO2 which is not pigment-grade is also applied in many fields, such as enamel, welding wire, ceramics, glasses, electronic ceramics, metallurgy, and so on.